NEW YORK, (June 17, 2021) –  Shelley Tanner, SanovaWorks CEO/President

Juneteenth Becomes a Federal Holiday

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

The observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day began in Galveston, Texas in 1965. Since then, the observance of Juneteenth has expanded across the United States and beyond. On Wednesday, Congress voted to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. President Biden will sign this bill into law today. This year it will become the latest federal holiday since Martin Luther King day in 1983. 

Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics, and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement, and planning the future. 

In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities, and religions join together to acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Understanding and empathy toward others’ experiences signal lasting improvements in our society.

Celebrate Black Joy 

Celebrating Black joy is a beautiful and essential way to commemorate Juneteenth. Black joy as a movement is born from the knowledge that joy is an act of resistance to oppression. Black joy comes in many forms from music and dancing, to rest and relaxation, to mindfulness and introspection. Black joy exists in direct opposition to the oppression that African Americans have experienced in this country. Black joy exists in spite of the historical diaspora of the Black community in this country. 

Celebrate Juneteenth through Black History

As we honor this holiday by remembering the great sacrifices that were made and the hard road we still have to travel to peace and justice, we encourage our team members to practice joy, take a needed rest, and learn something new about Black History. Celebrate Black Americans.

On June 17, Join Questlove, Esperanza Spalding, Dr. Shamell Bell and Brooklyn’s The Lay Out, in the second episode of The New York Times’ new series Black History, Continued.

SanovaWorks Marks Juneteenth 

Last year for the first time, SanovaWorks and its affiliates acknowledged Juneteenth as a company-wide holiday. SanovaWorks isn’t the first company or organization to commemorate Juneteenth, but we hope to inspire other businesses in Dermatology and other professional communities to follow suit.

 

Resources

Jon Batiste – Freedom (Official Music Video)

The New Black Joy:  Black History, Continued Juneteenth Event

Most Americans Know Little or Nothing about Juneteenth, Poll Finds

What Black Joy Means and Why It’s More Important than Ever