This Friday, HDJ will recognize Juneteenth as a paid company holiday. The unrest over recent weeks serves as a vital reminder that we have much to do in becoming a more just society. By honoring Juneteenth as a corporate holiday in 2020, HDJ believes we are taking a small and decisive step in confronting racism, furthering awareness, and reshaping our hearts. To us, this step is important in becoming the inclusive, diverse, and welcoming company we strive to be. Change is most lasting and impactful when we take action upon ourselves first.
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers delivered news of the Emancipation Proclamation, two years after being issued, to people enslaved in Galveston, Texas – the last region in the United States to learn about the end of the Civil War. The oldest US celebration marking the end of slavery, Juneteenth is a holiday of freedom and liberty celebrated annually on June 19. We believe that this day is an opportunity to celebrate the history, culture, and proud achievements of black Americans.
