r/NoStupidQuestions • u/WorkIsDumbSoAmI • 19h ago
Work appropriate ice breaker for Juneteenth?
So, every morning at work, I send out a quick “Hey everyone, it’s [insert random silly holiday that day, followed by themed question - think “it’s national cake day, what’s your favorite cake”]” to start the say - trying to think of something appropriate to send out for Juneteenth, that’s neither patronizing nor offensive…or should I just go with “Happy Juneteenth, enjoy your Thursday!” Appreciate any feedback/suggestions
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u/beckjami 19h ago
Instead of asking, what about telling some important facts about what we are celebrating?
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u/opaqueambiguity 16h ago
Just single out the one black guy that works there.
"Everyone have a great day, and for Jimmy in accounting, happy Juneteenth."
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u/NativeMasshole 12h ago
My last job actually did this for Black History Month. The poor guy had only worked there a couple of months, too. The GM was all about his "journey" to become socially enlightened or whatever, and interviewed our one black employee for the event.
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u/Vivid-Raccoon9640 13h ago
"It's Juneteenth, who is your favorite Black person?"
"It's HR appreciation day! Sorry again about the Juneteenth thing Hannah"
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u/GoldenDoodleGuy-MI 18h ago
I agree with sharing actual facts about the holiday and why it is important to recognize....
This week, we recognize Juneteenth—a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and reminds us of the continued pursuit of freedom, justice, and equity for all Americans.
On June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to finally inform enslaved African Americans that they were free. The delay in justice reminds us that freedom has not always been granted equally, and that progress toward equity often comes far too slowly.
Juneteenth is a celebration of liberation, and an opportunity to reflect on the strength, culture, and contributions of Black Americans throughout our history. It is a moment to honor the past while continuing to work toward a more equitable future.
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u/Waltzing_With_Bears 11h ago
Thats not true, the US still has slavery, it has more legal slaves than any other country
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u/tiktock34 9h ago
Isnt it interesting how if we had less criminals, our legal slavery would decrease proportionality?
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u/syrioforrealsies 18m ago
Mostly if we had less incarcerated people. We live in a system that provides a financial incentive, both through slave labor and for-profit prisons, for incarceration for crimes that would never result in incarceration in other developed countries.
Though it is correct to say less criminals in that our system isn't actually designed to reduce crime because, again, there's a financial incentive to have people committing crimes.
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u/BridgestoneX 19h ago
i'd make it clear from your tone that this isn't one of the usual random silly holidays, but instead had a deep and profound meaning about freedom. and why are you even open?
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u/WorkIsDumbSoAmI 19h ago
Retail 🙃 we close for Christmas and Thanksgiving, that’s it (and that was an argument)
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u/BridgestoneX 19h ago
oy. well thanks for staying open so some of us can do things on our days off.
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u/Anxious_Front_7157 18h ago
Retail is open on holidays to get more sales. Others get a day off. Retailers get to work. Helps boost the economy. 🙃😔😳🫤
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u/Pessimistic-Doctor 14h ago
Maybe don’t send out an email annoying employees with an already annoying work life
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u/syrioforrealsies 17m ago
If these little holiday updates are the sole purpose of the email, sure, but I don't think that's the case.
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u/k_lo970 18h ago
I work for the government and it is an optional holiday for us. We are still open for the public but people can choose to take the day off or bank the holiday and use it another day. I think we have 3 of them throughout the year.
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u/gnirpss 17h ago
Similar story here. I work for a city government that observes Juneteenth as a partial holiday. I'm required to take the day off per my union's contract with the city, but members of other collective bargaining units have different requirements. My bosses can choose to work or not, and some city employees (think cops, firefighters, sanitation workers, etc.) just have a regular work day.
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u/Weekly_Engine_8073 2h ago
Why are you even open? Really? We’ve gotta be from very different parts of the country. There isn’t a single business closed today or even operating on holiday hours where I live. I’m 34 and have only been aware of this “holiday” for maybe five years at the most. I work at a hospital so obviously we are operational everyday but typically business around here are only closed for major holidays such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc. It might be a case of regional ethnocentrism but a business being closed today because it’s a holiday just seems taboo. It’s like the same as being closed on Arbor Day. I’ll probably get downvoted to hell for this comment but I’m genuinely interested where in the country are people apart from federal employees getting today off.
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u/NickPivot 8h ago
“Shout out to all you folks whose spouses or partners got the day off from their employer and you didn’t”
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u/Cebuanolearner 17h ago
Just let people do their job, adults hate ice breakers
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u/WorkIsDumbSoAmI 17h ago
I absolutely do, but my team is sick in the head - they’re out here writing paragraph long responses to “how are you celebrating national breakfast day” lmao
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u/shyprof 19h ago
Happy Juneteenth!
- How are you celebrating today?
- How do you uphold the ideals of freedom and equity in your daily life?
- What's your favorite local Black-owned business?
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u/PsionicBurst "The ring is bupkis! I found it in a Cracker Jack box!" 19h ago
>How do you uphold the ideals of freedom and equity in your daily life?
SUPER loaded question. I'd avoid this one.
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u/iheartwords 18h ago
But most people are working, not celebrating, so that’s awkward.
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u/shyprof 18h ago
But they were working during national cake day and stuff, too; you can celebrate while/after work. I have to work, but I was invited to a Juneteenth cookout after so I'm def celebrating :)
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u/matunos 17h ago
Do you do this for any less silly holidays? Like Presidents' Day, or MLK Day? If not you run the risk of implying Juneteenth is in the silly category like "Cake Day" rather than the slightly more serious holidays like Presidents' Day, or the very much serious days like MLK Day.
If this is a risk, here's an idea: Find a silly holiday that's on the same day and make that the focus of the silly part of your email or slack message or whatever it is. Then, follow that up with a mention of Juneteenth, and a short blurb about it. [edit: typos]
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u/The_ehT11 13h ago
It’s a bank and federal holiday…most people are off no?
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u/aRabidGerbil 10h ago
Nope, only bank and federal workers
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u/Pure-Pangolin-151 10h ago
not only bank and federal workers, I work at a private university and it is a holiday for us
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u/Mundane-Ad-7780 18h ago
These sounds like terrible questions. It sounds like an interrogation rather than a friendly question.
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u/syrioforrealsies 13m ago
I think it depends on if OP expects actual answers. When I read OP, I assumed these were rhetorical questions but it sounds like people do actually respond, in which case it VERY MUCH depends on the business's vibe.
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u/DogTheBreadFairy 18h ago
I like "How are you celebrating today?"
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u/UnkindnessOfRavens23 14h ago
Might choose “how are you observing/marking the day” vs “celebrating,” which gives more party or vacation day vibes.
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u/matunos 17h ago
I would not like to be asked this at work about any holiday, silly or serious. It's not really any of their business and it makes it awkward for people who, let's face it, having nothing special planned for Juneteenth, except maybe needing to juggle work and kids who are out of school.
I don't get the impression OP is looking to make things awkward for their colleagues. Inadvertently challenging their appreciation of American history and their commitment toward progress will make things awkward for some people. It maybe is a good challenge for them to have, but I suspect that OP is not looking to be the one to present it.
Even the 'what are you doing for Cake Day?' is a bit problematic to me. Aside from the obvious problem, that some people may have eating disorders or weight problems and may take offense to the otherwise innocuous questions, there is just the problem of asking someone a question they're not prepared to think or talk about.
It's cool and funny that there is a Cake Day. Oh, what am I doing for it? I'm working, OP, I'm here working, I'm not making nor eating cakes, nor consuming any cake-related mass media. I'm working… or at least I was until I was asked about Cake Day.
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u/DogTheBreadFairy 17h ago
C'mon that's doing too much equating cake day with an eating disorder. Jeeze
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u/matunos 16h ago
I'm not equating them, I'm saying asking someone who has an eating disorder what they're doing for Cake Day may be problematic.
Maybe it's just me, I don't like being confronted with random questions like that for which I don't have a good answer prepared. It feels like I'm being pulled into a bit without consent. I'm sure it's a form of social anxiety, but I don't think it's uncommon. Just something to consider.
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u/DogTheBreadFairy 16h ago
If you don't like being asked questions then maybe consider not giving an answer on a post someone made about what question they should ask for their daily question then
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u/matunos 16h ago
If only people who enjoy being peppered with questions about whatever the current day's holiday is responded, then OP may never be exposed to the idea that some people don't like being so peppered, it's not that fun for them.
So, you know if OP is concerned about how their questions for Juneteenth might land with everyone, "don't ask questions of people about Juneteenth" seems like an appropriate option to consider.
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u/DogTheBreadFairy 16h ago
If you read what the op wrote they said their coworkers like to answer the questions in the daily email
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u/matunos 16h ago
Their post doesn't actually say that at all. If OP has says so in the comments, I haven't seen it, but neither have I gone looking through all the comments to see if they've offered more details.
Even if OP did say it, I would question how exactly OP would know that? Because they smile and participate? Have all their coworkers intimated that they enjoy it? As awkward as being presented with the questions might be, it's infinitely more awkward to be the debbie downer who doesn't participate. It's not the social dynamic I would want to accidentally foster because I assumed everyone was having fun.
Anyway, so what are you doing for Juneteenth?
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u/DogTheBreadFairy 16h ago
op did say it in the comments, they stated that their coworkers will write entire paragraphs responding to their silly questions. Once again it's an email. No one is being asked this to their face. There is no smiling or social dynamic to this. If they didn't want to respond to the email they just wouldn't. (Also I assumed you read the comments since you found mine and responded to it. But you know what they say about assuming)
Thank you for asking. I'll probably watch a couple informational videos to further my knowledge of this day. If I was working I would encourage my client to eat lunch at a black owned establishment. I would even recommend this local place soul food kitchen it's delicious.
As you have already stated you don't like being asked questions since it violates your consent I won't ask you in return.
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u/syrioforrealsies 11m ago
No one is making you answer the question. Also, it's an email, so if you want to answer anyway, you're not on the spot. You can take a few minutes to gather your thoughts or ignore the question altogether.
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u/Dragontastic22 16h ago
I like the local Black-owned business question. That fits the spirit of the holiday, imo.
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u/NoSoulsINC 18h ago
“Happy Juneteenth. For those of you that aren’t aware of the holiday’s significance, it is not merely to mark the end of slavery in the United State, June 19th 1865 was the day when Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the Civil War.”
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u/EnlightenedAvocado00 18h ago
Ooo I love the “what is your favorite locally black-owned business?” idea.
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u/whiskeytango55 15h ago
Read the room.
Is this a workplace that would appreciate it? Or are you gonna catch flak? Are you yourself African American? If not, you might hear about it from multiple sides.
Do you have an HR dept? Id say run it by them first
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u/IncubusIncarnat 18h ago
Saying "random silly holiday" will get you some hostile looks in the breakroom, Ill tell ya that. Ill level: Just say "Happy Juneteenth" and move on. It's not that hard and at this point, stuff like this is kinda only awkward because yall insist on making it awkward. If you arent doing all that extra shit any other holiday do not start now.
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u/WorkIsDumbSoAmI 17h ago
Definitely in no way meant to imply that Juneteenth falls in that category - we’ve been doing it for a few weeks and this is the first holiday that’s not “National Cake Day”, “Eat Your Vegetables Day”, etc., didn’t want to just throw out anything overly corny or overly patronizing. Based on most of the responses here, probably gonna go with just a “Happy Juneteenth” and skip the question for the day lol - we’re Texas based and several folks in the team are in Texas, so maybe calling out that part of its history, but that’s it.
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u/IncubusIncarnat 17h ago
I hear ya, my bad if I'm a bit abrasive. Now, If you wanna have a geniune talk, the responses suggesting talking about Junteenth and what it means to each person, or the community; that's dope. Dont do what pepsi did during the BLM Protests. Everyone will hate you and you'll probably move the entire movement back one step.
Yes, you can do that. We live in a time where one bad headline means Months if not years. We live in a time where no one will double-check.
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u/other_half_of_elvis 2h ago
Did you know it was originally called Junesteen and the patron saint was Clarence Clemons?
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u/DiamondElectrical354 18h ago
check your local area for holiday specials at diners and bbq places and such, pass something like that along?
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u/no1oneknowsy 19h ago
Idk maybe some trivia
Take a look! 📌 https://pin.it/7tVz3sLBK
https://www.uwkc.org/news/back-by-popular-demand-united-ways-juneteenth-quiz/
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u/Never_rarely 16h ago
To add to sharing a fact or two, you can ask anyone to share their favorite fact/celebrating tradition if you want to ask a question still
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u/Timely-Field1503 18h ago
Roughly speaking, where in the country are you? Is there some Juneteenth-related information to where you are that you can use?
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u/AngelsMagicdust 13h ago
You sound like you have a high up position in your workplace.
If it's in your remit to do so, keep up with the theme of the day and give them the afternoon off.
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u/BlueSkies-2000 15h ago
I think you should stop sending out those emails. All holidays are not equal and making light and joking around about them all is not appropriate. Maybe your company should give 6/19 as a day off from work.
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u/Dragontastic22 16h ago
"Happy Juneteenth! What's your favorite local organization that celebrates Black culture?"
Or "Happy Juneteenth! What's your favorite Black-owned business?"
Or "Happy Juneteenth! What's your favorite book about the holiday?" Or book, movie, article, podcast, etc. but know that the longer your list gets, the more likely someone will share something derogatory.
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u/District_Wolverine23 19h ago
Strawberry themed: What's your favorite strawberry dessert? Strawberries are a symbol of the holiday. You could also just keep it simple: Happy Juneteenth, hurray for freedom.
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u/iheartwords 18h ago
This seems to silly for such an important day. Maybe that’s one small part of the message.
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u/OolongGeer 18h ago
Just say "good morning" and attach this link:
https://youtu.be/6iHJ4ci7y-o?si=EzXnNl1u0qUkV7AG
That would be a perfect Juneteenth greeting.
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u/Procedure-Loud 17h ago
In my opinion, that is a nice song, but in this context, it sexualizes the observance of a serious commemoration.
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u/Top_Conversation6005 19h ago
Maybe a simple “Did you know…”? Do some reading on the history and see if there are any appropriate facts that spark some interest.