Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in Texas learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It is a celebration of freedom, but also a reminder that progress has always required collective action, organizing, and the determination of working people to demand their rights.

Black workers have always played a central role in building the labor movement and advancing civil rights in the U.S. From organizing for fair wages and safe working conditions to fighting discrimination in workplaces and communities, generations of Black workers have helped expand opportunity and strengthen protections for all working people.

Healthcare is no exception. Black nurses and healthcare workers have been leaders in patient care, public health, workplace advocacy, and the fight for equal treatment, often while facing barriers themselves. Their work has strengthened our profession, improved patient care, and helped make healthcare workplaces better for workers and the communities they serve.

As union members, Juneteenth reminds us that the fight for dignity, respect, and justice at work is part of a long tradition of people coming together to create change. The Illinois Nurses Association honors the contributions of Black healthcare workers, past and present, and celebrates their role in our union, our profession, and our communities.