As more companies recognize Juneteenth and offer it as a company holiday, we discuss the historical roots of Juneteenth and its context during today’s Black Lives Matter protests and movement for civil rights. Juneteenth commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States. How has America grappled with the legacy of slavery, and how has it led to today’s struggles over systemic racism?
Guests
- Noelle Chaddock, vice president for equity and inclusion at Bates College. They are the author of "Antagonizing White Feminism: Intersectionality's Critique of Women's Studies and the Acadamy."
- Kenneth C. Davis is the author of the New York Times best-selling Don't Know Much About History series of books. He has written about the history of Juneteenth for the New York Times.
- James Varner, president of Maine Human Rights Coalition and an organizer of local Juneteethn Celebrations. He is a former professor at the University of Maine, Orono.
Resources
- What is Juneteenth? 4 things you should know
- Juneteenth: Our Other Independence Day
- Celebrating Juneteenth: A Reading Of The Emancipation Proclamation
- Calls To Make Juneteenth A Federal Holiday Gain Momentum
- Juneteenth emerges as company holiday as Nike, Citigroup and others commemorate black history
- Black employees say ‘performative allyship’ is an unchecked problem in the office