JUNETEENTH

What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. According to Juneteenth.com,Juneteenth is a portmanteau of June 19, the day in 1865 when slaves were freed in the state of Texas. It’s also known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, and Jun-Jun. The message was delivered to Galveston, Texas by U.S. General Gordon Granger. On Tuesday June 15, 2021 the Senate unanimously passed a bill that would establish a federal holiday for Juneteenth. The bill now heads to the House which is expected to easily pass and then the bill would be sent to President Joe Biden for his signature! Why is it important? Specifically, Juneteenth marks the day when word arrived in Texas that slaves had been freed – more than two years after slaves were officially freed in the south by the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. In many ways, Juneteenth represents how freedom and justice in the US has always been delayed for black people. Reasons for the delay are not precisely known, but often indicate that news may have been deliberately delayed by wealthy landowners seeking additional harvests from slave labor or that the original messenger was killed. Why should it matter to eos? As we push towards being a leader in diversity, inclusion, belonging and a company that advocates for racial justice, it’s important that we take a step back and take this time to not do business-as-usual, and to instead, reflect & celebrate black culture & history -- another way of us saying, black lives matter. Where can I learn more about Juneteenth? Juneteenth History – Juneteenth.com What is Juneteenth? – The New York Times 12 Things You May Not Know About Juneteenth – Mental Floss What can we do on this day? Here are some resources that can help us all better understand the history of racism in our country and the importance of recognizing the need for change. · Documentaries/Videos 13th – Netflix (has recently been released to watch for free on Youtube ) True Justice: Bryan Stevenson – HBO Teach Us All – Netflix A Conversation on Race and Privilege with Angela Davis and Jane Elliott – Youtube · Books On Juneteenth – Annette Gordon Reed How to be an Antiracist – Ibram X. Kendi A People’s History of the United States – Howard Zinn White Fragility – Robin DiAngelo (also a video discussion of the topic available on Youtube ) So You Want to Talk About Race – Ijeoma Oluo