Juneteenth
Yesterday President Biden signed into law a bill that renders Juneteenth a federal holiday in the United States.
Juneteenth (June 19) — also referred to as Freedom Day — commemorates the day when slavery officially ended in the US in 1865. More than 150 years later, nearly all states recognize it as a state holiday.
When asked about Juneteenth, Mary Elliot — Curator of American Slavery at the National Museum of African American History and Culture — replied, “it reminds us of what we came through and what we can achieve.”
As it is cemented as the 11th holiday recognized by the US government — and as we approach the completion of FiscalNote’s DEI Task Force’s first year of service, learning, and growth — we pause to reflect upon the indelible contributions of our Black colleagues based in the US and across the globe.
It’s easy enough to recognize a holiday and the chance to enjoy a reprieve from the daily grind, but without reflecting personally on how and why this matters, it’s a missed opportunity for each of us. The systemic and situational impact that slavery — and ending it — had on the trajectory of our nation and its experiences is striking. While slavery wasn’t only an occurrence in this country, we can’t ignore that Black people in the United States experience homelessness, unemployment, and poverty at disproportionately higher rates than the rest of the population. As an organization, FiscalNote connects people and businesses to their governments. As individuals, I hope we can endeavor to help people and businesses find connection, meaning, and membership within our organization and the world we navigate today. Perhaps this day can give us pause to consider how we might be more active in making a difference in both minuscule and material ways.
In honor of Juneteenth, we want to remind you of ways in which you can contribute to ensuring the tenets of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are upheld and can continue to expand within the FiscalNote’s communities and beyond.
Juneteenth Resources & Learning Opportunities
- Juneteenth is now a federal holiday, as Biden signs bill (by Jim Saksa, CQ Roll Call)
- Podcast: Who’s afraid of critical race theory? (Mary C. Curtis, Joanne Levine, Evan Campbell, CQ Roll Call)
- The Amistad Center for Art & Culture, Step Afrika! and James Madison’s Montpelier Museum are all holding virtual Juneteenth events
- Becoming a regular patron of Black-owned businesses or donating to causes that help eradicate inequities and support social justice are just a few of the other actions to consider
- Why is Juneteenth Important?
- National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Juneteenth Portal
