Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. But it’s not just about history. It’s about how that history still shapes our systems, our opportunities—and our silences.
If you’re a coach, this day isn’t a branding prompt.
It’s a gut check.
Because you can’t coach people toward wholeness while ignoring the ways some of them were systemically torn apart.
The Coaching Industry Has a Representation Problem
– Leadership panels rarely reflect true diversity.
– Certification bodies often teach from one cultural lens.
– Coaching spaces are saturated with language that erases or minimizes lived racial trauma.
Juneteenth Calls Us to More
If you’re a non-Black coach, here’s what this day can mean beyond a post:
– Audit your frameworks. Do they honor collective trauma and cultural context?
– Review your testimonials. Are Black voices centered—or absent?
– Look at who you collaborate with. Is inclusion visible or theoretical?
Performative Allyship vs. Real Accountability
Posting a quote is easy. Doing the internal and systemic work is not.
Performative:
– Generic social media posts
– Hosting DEI panels without applying the insights
– Using phrases like ‘I don’t see color’
Accountable:
– Citing and crediting Black leaders, coaches, and creators
– Updating your intake forms and content to reflect cultural nuance
– Having hard conversations with peers when harm happens
What This Means for Trust
Trust is not a given. It’s earned. And in racially charged contexts, it’s rebuilt through consistent, visible alignment with equity.
If your brand says ‘safe space,’ it must feel safe to people with different lived realities.
Ways to Honor Juneteenth with Integrity
– Pay reparative dues: donate to Black-led mental health or healing organizations
– Elevate Black voices—without co-opting their tone or message
– Rework one piece of your business today with anti-racism in mind
Go Beyond the Post
Ask yourself:
– How do I handle harm in my spaces?
– Where am I unconsciously centering whiteness?
– What would it look like to decenter myself and still lead?
Final Thought
Juneteenth isn’t a hashtag.
It’s a reminder of freedom delayed—and the responsibility we all carry to ensure it’s not denied.
If you’re a coach, especially a white or non-Black one, this work won’t always be comfortable.
But it is always necessary.
Let today be a commitment—not a caption.
