As our nation celebrates Juneteenth, I find myself reflecting on a question that is bigger than a holiday: Who is Juneteenth really for? Is it only for Black Americans whose ancestors’ endured slavery, or is it for every American who believes in freedom, justice and human dignity?
As a Black former refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo now living in Concord, I believe the answer is clear. Juneteenth belongs to all of us because the responsibility of remembering history belongs to all of us.
Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally learned they were free, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. It is a celebration of freedom, but it is also a reminder that freedom delayed is freedom denied. History teaches us that progress does not happen automatically. It happens when people choose courage over comfort and truth over silence.
This year, as Americans celebrate Juneteenth, another historic event is taking place. The Obama Presidential Center opened its doors in Chicago on June 19, symbolically linking America’s painful past with its continuing journey toward a more inclusive future. Former president Barack Obama used the moment to emphasize hope, democracy, civic responsibility and the power of ordinary people to create change.
His message matters because many Americans are struggling to understand where our communities stand today. Across the country, we see political division, growing distrust and debates about race, identity and history. Some changes inspire hope. Others create uncertainty.
Here in New Hampshire, and especially in communities like Concord, I often wonder whether we are truly becoming the inclusive community we claim to be or whether we are simply becoming better at avoiding difficult conversations.
Frederick Douglass asked a similar question more than 170 years ago. On July 5, 1852, speaking in Rochester, New York, he delivered one of the most powerful speeches in American history, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” Douglass challenged America to confront the contradiction between its promises of liberty and the reality of slavery. He argued that a nation cannot celebrate freedom while denying freedom to others.
Today, slavery is no longer legal, but racism has not disappeared. Anyone who claims racism no longer exists is ignoring reality. Racism continues to appear in housing, education, criminal justice, employment opportunities and social attitudes. Sometimes it is loud and obvious. Other times it is quiet and hidden behind systems that many people no longer question.
This is why Juneteenth should not be viewed as a Black holiday alone. It should also be a day of reflection for White Americans. Not because they are personally responsible for slavery, but because all of us are responsible for the society we choose to build today. The question is no longer who caused historical injustice. The question is who will help correct its lasting effects.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded America that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Malcolm X challenged America to confront uncomfortable truths rather than hide from them. Their approaches differed, but both understood that real progress requires honesty.
Real unity is not created by pretending problems do not exist. Real unity is built when people face reality together and commit themselves to improvement.
As someone who came to this country seeking safety and opportunity, I remain grateful for America. This nation gave me opportunities that many refugees around the world can only dream about. Yet gratitude should never require silence. True patriotism means loving a country enough to help it become better.
That is why Juneteenth matters. It reminds us that America’s story is not only about independence in 1776. It is also about emancipation in 1865, civil rights in the 1960s, and the continuing work of building a society where opportunity is truly available to everyone.
As we approach another Fourth of July, I am reminded of Douglass’s challenge and Obama’s message of hope. I am reminded that democracy depends on citizens who are willing to listen, learn and lead. Most importantly, I am reminded that change often begins with the quiet voices in our communities, people who see problems, care deeply and refuse to give up.
My hope is that more of those voices will speak. My hope is that our leaders will choose courage over division. My hope is that white Americans, Black Americans, immigrants, refugees and all people will recognize that the work of justice belongs to everyone.
Juneteenth is not simply about remembering what happened in Galveston in 1865. It is about deciding what kind of nation we want to become in 2026 and beyond. May we choose truth over denial, unity over division and action over silence. And may God grant us the wisdom, leadership and courage needed to continue the unfinished work of freedom.
Fisto Ndayishimiye is a refugee, community organizer and youth leader based in Concord. He is the co-founder and executive director of the Young Adults Development Network, founder and director of Importance Leadership, and founder of One Concord.