Happy Juneteenth. It is a day where we celebrate the end of slavery, honor Black resilience and history, and serve as an ongoing reflection on the pursuit of racial equity and civil rights.

At its core, Independence Day is the “birthday” of the United States as an independent nation. The holiday represents the nation’s foundational ideals: liberty, equality, and the rejection of a monarchy. It remains a day to reflect on history, freedom, and the sacrifices made to establish the country.