What Juneteenth Means to Us
As a minority small business owner in the financial services sector, I am thrilled Juneteenth is now a national holiday and allows descendants of slaves the freedom and choice to celebrate the holiday as they see fit. "Juneteenth serves as a reminder of the freedom and justice that was long overdue," Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated so well.
Thomas-Greenfield continued with a little history: "On June 19, the United States commemorates the day in 1865 that Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce the emancipation of more than 250,000 African Americans who were enslaved in the state. Although the Emancipation Proclamation legally abolished slavery in Confederate states in 1863, African Americans in areas still under Confederate control were not free until this momentous day two years later." I encourage you to read her full statement and how this affects her personally.
Juneteenth is a momentous occasion that should be remembered and celebrated beyond June 19.
"For the first time in American history, America's original sin — that is, slavery — will be center and a commemorative moment annually that will bring parents and children, teachers and students and everyday Americans and newcomers alike together," said Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Harvard Kennedy School on PBS.
Coming together is the most important part. I challenge companies in the financial services sector to move away from just checking the marketing acknowledgment box or closing the office on June 19. I encourage you to share how you are hiring, sponsoring, promoting, and investing in descendants of slaves in the C Suite and Board Room, so that your actions can inspire others.
Sincerely,
A. Gregory Hunt
