Juneteenth, Truth-Telling, and the Power of Union-Supported Educators
Our guest author is Karla Hernández-Mats, a respected voice for public education who brings a deep understanding of the education system, from inside the classroom to executive leadership who is currently Chair of Educated. We Stand and an AFT Vice President.
As we commemorate Juneteenth—-a day that marks both delayed freedom and enduring resilience—-we are reminded that history is not just something we inherit, but something we actively teach, shape, and defend.
In today’s educational landscape, that responsibility carries new weight.
Across the country, educators are navigating a growing number of policies and political pressures designed to narrow curriculum, discourage honest conversations, and promote a version of teaching that is sanitized, disconnected, and, ultimately, self-centered. These efforts do more than limit content. They attempt to redefine the purpose of public education itself, shifting it away from critical thinking, identity development, and collective understanding.
But classrooms do not thrive under silence. Students do not grow from half-truths.
The research, presented in Unionized Teachers of Color’s Interpretations of the Silencing of Diversity Discourse in Florida: An Intersectional Qualitative Study, underscores a critical truth: educators of color consistently emphasize the importance of teaching authentically by drawing on lived experiences, cultural knowledge, and historical accuracy to foster deeper student engagement and identity development. This is not supplemental work. It is essential.
Authentic teaching is what allows students to see themselves in the curriculum. It builds critical thinking by inviting students to question, analyze, and connect past to present. It nurtures identity by affirming that their histories and voices matter. And it strengthens classrooms as spaces of trust, relevance, and intellectual rigor.
Yet, authenticity in teaching does not exist in a vacuum.
The findings from our study point to a powerful factor that enables educators of color to sustain this work: union support.
When educators are part of strong unions, they report feeling more empowered to teach truthfully and resist external pressures that seek to limit their professional judgment. Unions provide not only protection, but also a collective voice that affirms the value of honest, inclusive education. They create spaces where educators can collaborate, share strategies, and stand together when their expertise is challenged.
In this sense, unions are not just labor organizations, they are guardians of educational integrity.
This connection is especially meaningful as we reflect on Juneteenth. The legacy of Juneteenth is rooted in delayed justice, in the withholding of truth, and in the long struggle to claim both freedom and recognition. To teach this history authentically is to honor that legacy. To dilute it is to repeat the very injustices it represents.
Educators understand that their role extends beyond delivering content. They are shaping how students understand freedom, democracy, and their place within both. That work requires courage, clarity, and support.
And that is where union solidarity becomes indispensable.
At a time when policies may encourage educators to retreat—to avoid discomfort, to sidestep complexity, to center neutrality over truth—-our unions remind us of a different path. They reinforce that teaching is not an individual act of compliance, but a collective commitment to students and communities.
But solidarity must be lived, not just named.
Now is the time for educators—especially educators of color—and their allies to intentionally build networks within their schools and districts. This means creating spaces to share curriculum, support one another in moments of challenge, mentor newer educators, and collectively advocate for the freedom to teach truthfully. It means leaning into union structures not just for protection, but for connection and power-building.
When educators come together, they reduce isolation and amplify impact. When unions actively cultivate these networks, they transform individual courage into collective strength.
Juneteenth calls us to remember that progress has never been passive. It has always depended on people willing to speak truth, even when it is inconvenient or contested.
For educators, that truth lives in the classroom.
And for union members, it is strengthened and sustained through solidarity in action.
To better understand how these dynamics are playing out in real classrooms, please read the full study: Unionized Teachers of Color’s Interpretations of the Silencing of Diversity Discourse in Florida: An Intersectional Qualitative Study.