“Culture is everything - from the art you choose to hang on your office walls, to the holidays you observe as a company,” said Electives teacher, Monica D. Livingston. Last week, Monica discussed the evolution of workplace culture with a group of employees at one of our partner companies. As the calendar turns to May, we were curious how companies are celebrating Juneteenth this year:

Emily Mikailli, SVP of People Operations at Signifyd, told us, “We decided to make Juneteenth a US company holiday moving forward because the events of last summer were a huge wake-up call for us to better educate ourselves on true Black history and to make decisions as a company that reflect our unwavering belief that Black lives matter and that Black history matters. We collectively agreed that we wanted to do what we could to help amplify the magnitude of recognition for what is an incredibly significant but oft-overlooked event in Black history and the history of the United States. It sends a message to our employees about what we prioritize and that we are willing to reframe the narrative of US history to be more inclusive, and less centered on whiteness.”

Natalie Rast, U.S. Director of People Operations at stensul, shared “ At stensul, we’re recognizing Juneteenth because to acknowledge solely the Fourth of July as our "Independence Day" is to ignore the harsh and shameful reality that not all people in the U.S. were freed from slavery until June 19, 1865. It’s important to us that we not only recognize Juneteenth by providing time off for employees to celebrate and gather with friends and family, but that we shed light on this too often forgotten story of liberation in US history by centering the experiences and contributions of Black Americans through workshops, educational resources, and dialogue. We all have an important role to play in dismantling white supremacy and other systems of oppression. Stensul is committed to being an agent of change in the SaaS landscape, and we know that takes continuous reflection and action, not just words.”

Beyond the company level, we also reached out to historian and decolonization expert, Shaunda Lewis, to understand Juneteenth at a personal level: “As a first generation African American, I am a product of Afro Caribbean immigrants - people from a region of the world that shares the legacy of the enslavement of people of African descent with the United States. Every Juneteenth I think about the concept of freedom, especially when it comes to all people who are a product of the spreading of Africans across the globe due to the Atlantic Slave Trade. I think about all the dates that marked the end of slavery in this part of the world. I think about those places that explicitly celebrate emancipation and build it into the holiday structure, culture, and history lessons. And then I think about the places that don't or do it poorly. What is the impact on people that share my race in those places and in America? What does freedom mean for them? The last place to abolish slavery in the western hemisphere was Brazil on May 13, 1888, 30+ years after the US and over 100 years after the Haitian Revolution. What does freedom mean in Brazil? Slavery was abolished in my fatherland of Antigua on August 1, 1834 - 30 years before the US and 40 years after the Haitian Revolution. What does freedom mean in Antigua? And the slaves were fully emancipated in my homeland of the United States of America on June 19, 1865. What does freedom mean in the United States of America? What does freedom mean to me? How does the place that I am in acknowledge the significance of my freedom? I celebrate Junetheenth by reflecting on this history, celebrating our progress in this country and others toward liberation for all, but never lose sight of the fact that our collective journey continues on the path towards absolute liberation.”

We’re fortunate to learn from great company cultures, people leaders, and teachers who are celebrating Juneteenth and reflecting on its importance. For many years, US companies did not acknowledge or recognize the day’s significance, which contributed to an unfamiliarity around Juneteenth. So, if it’s still a bit unfamiliar to you, we thought we’d cover some questions that may be on your mind and then together, let’s celebrate a broader, more authentic and inclusive freedom moving forward.

Juneteenth or June 19, 1865, is the day US troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to free enslaved African-Americans who remained under ownership two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth is also known as Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, Freedom Day, and Emancipation Day.

Not yet, but momentum is building. Most states have officially started observing Juneteenth and several large corporations closed operations in 2020 for the first time. The last time Congress approved a national holiday was 1983, when it created one to honor Martin Luther King Jr.

The name stems from the date of the holiday “June” + “Nineteenth.”

Recognize the day as a holiday for all employees - while some companies are giving their employees a day off, others are not there yet. We recognize that for certain businesses this can be difficult without alignment on the federal level. For example, financial services companies that operate any day the stock markets are open. One very important reminder is to always be consistent across the workforce and ensure the holiday is celebrated in an inclusive manner.

Encourage a volunteer day - during the week of Juneteenth, encourage employees to engage in volunteer work for an organization promoting social change or equal rights. Spanning the initiative over a week provides the necessary coverage while it also gives employees the opportunity to get involved with something meaningful personally and to the community.

Virtual lunch and learn - both the “lunch” and the “learn” are a good opportunity to elevate the workforce. Ordering food from a local business that offers culturally diverse dishes is a good way to familiarize your team with other cultures. And a conversation about the history of Juneteenth or related topics about race or social justice will educate your workforce and when we know better, we do better.

Celebrate freedom, celebrate equal rights, and reflect.

People - spend time with old friends, meet new friends. Be together.

History - visit a museum, read a book, watch a movie, learn more about the years leading up to the historic day.

Reflect - take a moment and imagine life during slavery - the injustice and hardship for so many people. Then take a moment and try to imagine the feeling of the newly found freedom. Lastly, take a moment and reflect on the present - where are we still falling short as a nation and what work can be done?

Yes, absolutely. The day signifies a major step forward for humanity and for social justice. After all, the end of slavery in the United States is a victory for the nation.


 

“Culture is everything - from the art you choose to hang on your office walls, to the holidays you observe as a company,” said Electives teacher, Monica D. Livingston. Last week, Monica discussed the evolution of workplace culture with a group of employees at one of our partner companies. As the calendar turns to May, we were curious how companies are celebrating Juneteenth this year:

Emily Mikailli, SVP of People Operations at Signifyd, told us, “We decided to make Juneteenth a US company holiday moving forward because the events of last summer were a huge wake-up call for us to better educate ourselves on true Black history and to make decisions as a company that reflect our unwavering belief that Black lives matter and that Black history matters. We collectively agreed that we wanted to do what we could to help amplify the magnitude of recognition for what is an incredibly significant but oft-overlooked event in Black history and the history of the United States. It sends a message to our employees about what we prioritize and that we are willing to reframe the narrative of US history to be more inclusive, and less centered on whiteness.”

Natalie Rast, U.S. Director of People Operations at stensul, shared “ At stensul, we’re recognizing Juneteenth because to acknowledge solely the Fourth of July as our "Independence Day" is to ignore the harsh and shameful reality that not all people in the U.S. were freed from slavery until June 19, 1865. It’s important to us that we not only recognize Juneteenth by providing time off for employees to celebrate and gather with friends and family, but that we shed light on this too often forgotten story of liberation in US history by centering the experiences and contributions of Black Americans through workshops, educational resources, and dialogue. We all have an important role to play in dismantling white supremacy and other systems of oppression. Stensul is committed to being an agent of change in the SaaS landscape, and we know that takes continuous reflection and action, not just words.”

Beyond the company level, we also reached out to historian and decolonization expert, Shaunda Lewis, to understand Juneteenth at a personal level: “As a first generation African American, I am a product of Afro Caribbean immigrants - people from a region of the world that shares the legacy of the enslavement of people of African descent with the United States. Every Juneteenth I think about the concept of freedom, especially when it comes to all people who are a product of the spreading of Africans across the globe due to the Atlantic Slave Trade. I think about all the dates that marked the end of slavery in this part of the world. I think about those places that explicitly celebrate emancipation and build it into the holiday structure, culture, and history lessons. And then I think about the places that don't or do it poorly. What is the impact on people that share my race in those places and in America? What does freedom mean for them? The last place to abolish slavery in the western hemisphere was Brazil on May 13, 1888, 30+ years after the US and over 100 years after the Haitian Revolution. What does freedom mean in Brazil? Slavery was abolished in my fatherland of Antigua on August 1, 1834 - 30 years before the US and 40 years after the Haitian Revolution. What does freedom mean in Antigua? And the slaves were fully emancipated in my homeland of the United States of America on June 19, 1865. What does freedom mean in the United States of America? What does freedom mean to me? How does the place that I am in acknowledge the significance of my freedom? I celebrate Junetheenth by reflecting on this history, celebrating our progress in this country and others toward liberation for all, but never lose sight of the fact that our collective journey continues on the path towards absolute liberation.”

We’re fortunate to learn from great company cultures, people leaders, and teachers who are celebrating Juneteenth and reflecting on its importance. For many years, US companies did not acknowledge or recognize the day’s significance, which contributed to an unfamiliarity around Juneteenth. So, if it’s still a bit unfamiliar to you, we thought we’d cover some questions that may be on your mind and then together, let’s celebrate a broader, more authentic and inclusive freedom moving forward.

Common Questions:

What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth or June 19, 1865, is the day US troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to free enslaved African-Americans who remained under ownership two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth is also known as Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, Freedom Day, and Emancipation Day.

Is Juneteenth a national holiday?
Not yet, but momentum is building. Most states have officially started observing Juneteenth and several large corporations closed operations in 2020 for the first time. The last time Congress approved a national holiday was 1983, when it created one to honor Martin Luther King Jr.

Why is Juneteenth called Juneteenth?
The name stems from the date of the holiday “June” + “Nineteenth.”

What can employees do on Juneteenth?
Recognize the day as a holiday for all employees - while some companies are giving their employees a day off, others are not there yet. We recognize that for certain businesses this can be difficult without alignment on the federal level. For example, financial services companies that operate any day the stock markets are open. One very important reminder is to always be consistent across the workforce and ensure the holiday is celebrated in an inclusive manner.
Encourage a volunteer day - during the week of Juneteenth, encourage employees to engage in volunteer work for an organization promoting social change or equal rights. Spanning the initiative over a week provides the necessary coverage while it also gives employees the opportunity to get involved with something meaningful personally and to the community.
Virtual lunch and learn - both the “lunch” and the “learn” are a good opportunity to elevate the workforce. Ordering food from a local business that offers culturally diverse dishes is a good way to familiarize your team with other cultures. And a conversation about the history of Juneteenth or related topics about race or social justice will educate your workforce and when we know better, we do better.
How can companies celebrate Juneteenth?
Celebrate freedom, celebrate equal rights, and reflect.
People - spend time with old friends, meet new friends. Be together.
History - visit a museum, read a book, watch a movie, learn more about the years leading up to the historic day.
Reflect - take a moment and imagine life during slavery - the injustice and hardship for so many people. Then take a moment and try to imagine the feeling of the newly found freedom. Lastly, take a moment and reflect on the present - where are we still falling short as a nation and what work can be done?
Is it OK to say Happy Juneteenth?
Yes, absolutely. The day signifies a major step forward for humanity and for social justice. After all, the end of slavery in the United States is a victory for the nation.

CALL TO ACTION

How companies and employees can celebrate Juneteenth, by treating it as an employee holiday and by celebrating the significance of the day.

How Companies & Employees can Celebrate Juneteenth Together

Sat May 01 2021

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