Juneteenth: What it means to Chimers
Many people believe that it was Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation that ended slavery. In fact, it was on June 19, 1865 — over two years after Lincoln’s address — that Union soldiers delivered the news of freedom to Texas slaves. June 19 became known as Juneteenth and has been a day of celebration and remembrance ever since. But the day that Black slaves were liberated wasn’t just a day of liberation for slaves — it represented movement at the forefront of equality for every person. At a time when the cries for equality are louder than ever — amplified by the silence that hangs among us as we move through a global pandemic — this day holds a lot of weight.
Chime recently declared Juneteenth a company-wide Forever Chime Holiday in honor of the history the day represents for many Chimers and members alike. In observance of the day, we’d like to share a couple of perspectives from Chimers on what Juneteenth — and the decision to make it an annual holiday at Chime — means to them.
Chris Massey, Head of Global Government Relations & Public Affairs
The way I view Juneteenth is similar to how many in Mexico might view Dia de Los Muertos: it’s a day to think about those who have come before you, to remember, to gather with loved ones over a shared meal.
I’m of mixed race — my mother is Black and my dad white — but most of my formative memories were spent with my mom’s family. In our house, Juneteenth mattered. Every year we’d get together with family and eat. There was always lots of food, multiple generations, and plenty of discussions around the table.
My upbringing and family means that I come from both white and Black history — I carry the burden of both the oppressor and the oppressed (a concept I learned about from my fellow Chimer, Courtney — you can read her thoughts below). The way I see it, I hold the responsibility of celebrating Juneteenth — what I hope Black Americans will do with the day — and observing it — what I feel white Americans should do with the day.
So tomorrow, to keep with tradition, I’ll gather my family together — including my mom, wife, and two kids — to cook food and talk about our ancestors. We will think about the people who came before us, like my grandfather, and the role we play in crafting a future where we and our children can exist without ethnicity shaping — or coloring — our experiences.
‘Forever holiday,’ or forever a day to reflect
One of the reasons I can gather my family tomorrow for a full day of celebration and observance is because Juneteenth was made a holiday at Chime. What started as a suggestion on Slack that we observe the day became an action and, last week, the day went from being a day off this year to a day that will be granted to Chimers to reflect and celebrate forever.
The significance of Juneteenth being made a Forever Chime Holiday this year is something I keep coming back to: it’s a signal to me that Chime is committed to thinking about diversity from a mindset of sustainability, not reactivity. If the decision had been just to give Chimers a day off this year only, we would have been focused only on the crisis at hand. By making Juneteenth a day that Chimers can take every year will give us all the chance to check in, every year, on whether we’ve kept our word and are moving the needle on diversity.
“The significance of Juneteenth being made a Forever Chime Holiday this year is something I keep coming back to: it’s a strong signal to me that we’re committed to thinking about diversity from a mindset of sustainability, not reactivity.”
After all, Chime exists because we want to represent all communities by building products and providing services that serve everyone. To do that, we have to be committed to anti-racist policies internally and externally. This is one step towards taking that commitment and turning it into action for Chimers internally. I hope that it sparks thoughts and conversations that will carry the same effects — inclusion and anti-racism — outwards.
Celebration, observation, and hope
I hope that Chimers will take the day to understand what it means to them and how they can honor it. I hope that everyone can take a few moments to better understand the Black experience in America, whatever that means to them — whether it’s reading articles, watching documentaries or movies, or speaking to friends.
I’m going to take the day to celebrate and observe those who came before me. With plenty of good food and time with my family, I’ll talk to my kids — both of whom are of different races than me — about the importance of inclusion. And I’ll undoubtedly continue to be buoyed by the hope and contributions they’ll make to the conversation.
Courtney Clavon, Senior Technical Recruiter
I remember Juneteenth fondly — it was a day my father would run through the house yelling “It’s Juneteenth!” in celebration. When I first learned about the day, I was confused — it wasn’t what I was taught in history class, and it wasn’t something my white neighbors and friends celebrated. When I moved to the Bay Area, I fully discovered the roots of Juneteenth and its celebrations. Every year, the streets of Oakland and San Francisco are flooded in celebration of Black culture and in memory of our history. Compared to the soul food dinner my mom would cook every year when I was growing up, Juneteenth has since taken on much more meaning — and meant more outward-facing actions for me, like celebrations and parades.
Though I’ve embraced Juneteenth as a holiday for the past few years, it remains an important point of discussion amongst my friends and coworkers. I am always surprised by how many people aren’t familiar with the day.
This is why, when June 19 was announced as Chime’s first “Take Care of Yourself Day,” I was excited. I quickly shared on Slack that our first company-wide day to take a break and recharge coincided with Juneteenth and I offered my coworkers — many of whom were unfamiliar with the day — a brief history lesson.
Chiming in and making a change
I was surprised when several Chimers Chimed In (which is one of our company values), suggesting we make Juneteenth a Forever Chime Holiday. And the surprises kept coming: A few days later, it was announced to the company that June 19 would be a Forever Chime Holiday. Our executives believed that it was a no-brainer and the day should be commemorated.
The announcement of June 19 as a company-wide Forever Holiday represents Chime’s willingness to do the right thing and listen to Chimers. It represents our nimbleness and ability to be flexible.
But that’s not all the announcement represents to me.
The reality is, many of Chime’s members live paycheck to paycheck and many of our members belong to the Black community. As a Chimer, making Juneteenth a holiday not only signals to me that Chime supports me and respects my culture, it signals that we also support and respect our members. And like the liberation of slaves on June 19, it’s not just a decision or an action that will hang in a moment — it’s one that will help us as a company, and me as a Chimer, build a better product and community for our members.
Not a moment, a movement
In light of recent world events, I’m constantly reminded that ‘This is not a moment, it’s a movement,’ and that couldn’t be more true for myself as a Chimer. The more decisions Chime makes — like supporting causes that matter and helping our members — the more we’re giving signals to Chimers and members alike that none of this is a one and done. It’s a signal that we’re taking our feelings a step further and moving from ally to accomplice — that we are willing and motivated to act to support marginalized groups.
To celebrate Juneteenth, I’m going to educate myself, educate others, and soak up the culture and history of my Black community. I’m also going to use the day to take care of myself — what it was originally intended for. We all need a break sometimes — especially when things get heavy, and they’ve been heavy lately. Juneteenth is a reminder to revel in history, in our resilience, in our action, and also to take care of our culture by resting if we need to.
