By Tenita Abraham
AI & Technology
As we prepare to celebrate Juneteenth, I find myself reflecting on how differently I am observing it this year.
Last year, I spent much of the season studying, teaching, and sharing the history of Juneteenth and Black Music Month. I hosted a workshop, explored the significance of June 19, 1865, and even created a video reenactment to help others better understand the events surrounding that historic day. It was a reminder that our history deserves to be remembered, preserved, and shared.
This year, however, my thoughts have shifted beyond the celebration itself.
I have been thinking about legacy.
Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to travel to Ghana. While the trip included business opportunities and new connections, it also provided something far more meaningful. Standing on African soil reminded me that our story did not begin with slavery. Our history is deeper, richer, and more expansive than many of us were taught. It was a powerful reminder that understanding where we come from can help shape where we are going.
That reflection has followed me into every area of my life and work.
This week, I will attend TSP Live, a gathering of Black entrepreneurs, creators, investors, and business leaders from across the country. It is a space where ideas are exchanged, partnerships are formed, and people are actively working to create opportunities for themselves and future generations.
When I think about Juneteenth, I cannot help but see the connection.
The generations before us fought for freedom, equality, access, and opportunity. Today, we honor those sacrifices not only through celebration but through what we build. Every business launched, every student mentored, every home purchased, every investment made, every story preserved, and every community strengthened becomes part of that continuing legacy.
Freedom opened the door, but each generation must decide what to do once it walks through it.
For some, that may mean pursuing higher education. For others, it may mean starting a business, building wealth, serving the community, preserving family history, or creating opportunities for those who come after them. The path may look different for each of us, but the responsibility remains the same.
That responsibility is one reason I am especially excited to launch the first episode of Sepia Success this Juneteenth season. The podcast was created to highlight stories, lessons, accomplishments, and opportunities within our communities. Too often, our successes go undocumented and our stories go untold. Sepia Success is one small way to help preserve those stories while inspiring others to create their own.
Juneteenth reminds us that freedom was never meant to be the finish line. It was the starting point.
As we gather with family and friends this year, let us celebrate how far we have come. But let us also ask ourselves an important question: What are we building with the opportunities that previous generations fought to secure?
The answer to that question will help shape the legacy we leave behind.
Freedom opened the door. What we do next is up to us.
Tenita Abraham is the founder of Building Legacies, LLC and host of the newly launched Sepia Success podcast, highlighting stories of entrepreneurship, leadership, culture, and community impact