Opinion | Juneteenth is an opportunity to inspire next generation

Juneteenth celebrates the order issued by Union Major General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, announcing the liberation of enslaved people in Texas. The following year, Black Texans celebrated the order’s anniversary with “Jubilee Day” celebrations. The holiday spread from there across the South, and with the Great Migration in the early 20th century, across the country.

The emancipation of slaves, proclaimed in 1863 but not reaching Texas until more than two years later, was the first step in a long march toward a more just and equitable society for Black Americans. Nearly 160 years after Gen. Granger’s order, we can take pride in the progress we’ve made as a nation toward racial equality. We celebrate the heroic leaders who lead the fight for that progress, and we also recognize that there is more work to be done to ensure that our nation lives up to its ideals.

Thanks to the struggles and sacrifices of our ancestors, Black Americans have a seat at the tables of power. One can only imagine how those newly-liberated Black Americans at the first Juneteenth celebrations in 1866 would react to news that one day this country would have twice elected a Black president and elected a Black woman as vice-president.

The fact remains that we can and must do more to ensure equal opportunity for all. For this reason, it is critical that we recognize Juneteenth as an opportunity, not only to commemorate the past, but more so to empower future generations of Black leaders so they can write the next chapter of our history. 

As a member of Governor Whitmer’s cabinet, I take seriously the opportunity to ensure that diverse perspectives have a voice in state government. Representation matters, and Michigan’s government increasingly looks more and more like the 10 million residents we serve. Working with talented young leaders ensures that progress will continue, elevating future generations and paying homage to the work of prior generations.

I know, as a child born in Jamaica and a graduate of Cass Tech in Detroit, how invaluable mentors were to my career development. I constantly encourage young professionals to seek out mentors who can give them sound advice and share their perspectives and career experiences. Mentorship has been essential to my career, which is why I also endeavor to be a mentor for others. We all have a responsibility to find a mentor and to also be a mentor. My personal success was built on the hard work of those who came before and blazed the trail for me to follow. It is important that I pay forward those efforts by helping the next generation of Black leaders are successful.

When I mentor promising young people, I try to instill these lessons:

1. We all have a unique voice and a responsibility to use that voice in a way that speaks up for others who may not be heard.

2. Show up every day as your most authentic self. The best leaders lead with authenticity and embrace who they are.

3. Afford grace to others and remember to afford that same grace to yourself. You never know what others are dealing with and we are all doing our best to navigate the twists and turns of life.

4. Self-care is not selfish; it is self-preservation. You are no good to anyone else if you have not taken care of yourself physically, mentally, spiritually, or emotionally.

5. Always be prepared by doing your homework. This will enable you to show up with confidence, display the knowledge that you bring to the table, and meaningfully contribute as only you can.

6. Whatever success we have achieved should be ultimately used to give back and create opportunities for others. It is also important, in my experience, that we provide young people the space to learn and grow in their own way. Yes, sometimes they will fail when they insist on doing things their “own way.” That is ok. It is part of the process of learning.

Juneteenth is a day filled with both pride and purpose. We have come a long way from those first “Jubilee Day” celebrations, but we still have a long way to go. I am confident that we will achieve the promise of America, but to make this dream a reality we must do the work of empowering and equipping our young leaders. I hope you will join me in answering the call to mentorship. With the right support and equitable access to opportunities, the next generation can and will exceed our greatest expectations.