United States Eventing Association

On this Juneteenth, we reflect not only on freedom’s arrival but on the responsibility that freedom demands—a responsibility to honor truth, dignity, and humanity in every person.

Dr. Maya Angelou once said, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

Oftentimes we forget that a small act of kindness or a welcoming smile opens the door to many wonderful opportunities not only in life, but especially in our sport, making it feel welcoming and enjoyable. Dr. Angelou is one of America’s most recognized voices of our times, and her voice is full of courage, compassion and wisdom. She was a writer, poet, educator, historian, civil rights activist, scholar and much more. She carried responsibility in everything she wrote, said, and stood for. Like Juneteenth itself, Dr. Angelou’s work reminds us that freedom is not just about law, but about love. Not just about history, but about healing for people of all races.

In her own words, Dr. Angelou states-

“We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value, no matter their color.”

That belief is at the heart of Juneteenth. It’s a celebration of liberation, yes, but also a call to live with open arms. To build a country that embraces its full self. To move beyond tolerance toward true mutual respect.

On this Juneteenth, may we honor her example by continuing that work, by seeing one another not as strangers divided by race or history, but as people joined in the commonality.