Celebrating Juneteenth

Juneteenth presents a powerful opportunity for businesses and individuals to celebrate the ending of slavery and continued efforts towards increased economic opportunity. Juneteenth presents a time to support initiatives that promote financial freedom and empowerment, Black-owned businesses, and education communities.

Some Ways to Celebrate:

Supporting Black-Owned Businesses:

You can use social media to highlight businesses’ products or services. Attend or support a pop-up event, as well as attending seminars and teaching events along with local exhibitions on Juneteenth.

Education and Awareness:

This is a time to educate broader communities, employees, and customers about the historical context of Juneteenth, and the impact and ongoing struggle for access and economic opportunity. It is also an opportunity to educate your team about the past and inspire them to do work that makes an impact. Observing the day may include hosting a panel discission where community elders speak on their experiences as seasoned business owners, community leaders, and/or community historians.

Encouraging reflection and action

This day celebrates strides made towards freedom, access, and treating your fellow humankind equally, with dignity and respect. It also highlights the remaining challenges to address in our society. 

Some Research for Continued Learning

The end of slavery was just the beginning of the journey towards economic access, opportunity, and upward mobility for Blacks in America. For your continued learning, please see below:

• Research exists on the relationship between the Great Migration and economic mobility (see here).

• Research on the interconnection of laws, policies, and economic opportunity (see here).

  
  

There Is Still Work to Be Done

Research shows that Black Americans are still experiencing persistent inequities across all areas of economic participation. This not only impacts economic mobility for the Black community, but also restrains our entire economy from reaching its full potential (Source: Black Economic Mobility | McKinsey & Company). Below is some data to consider:

• $1.7T in projected annual Black household consumption by 2030

• $1.6T in additional revenue for Black-owned businesses in parity scenario

• $300B opportunity to companies to better serve Black Americans across key areas of consumption

Please remember community, “[w]e all do better when we all do better”-Paul Wellstone.