Do you want a gold star, Ally?
Happy Juneteenth.
As Juneteenth approached this year, for the first time in history, there were rolling announcements from multiple corporations that they were going to recognize the day as a holiday. Salaried employees get the day off, hourly employees get paid time and a half like on national holidays, and I must admit, I’ve got mixed feelings about it all.
Growing up, my family did not celebrate Juneteenth — a holiday that commemorates the end of slavery. I am not sure why, but we did celebrate Kwanzaa — a 7-day holiday that celebrates the history and contributions of African-Americans to America. I remember when I lived in New York, I was jealous of those in the Jewish culture who had been able to get their holidays recognized by the school system and state organizations. I wondered how they organized and found a way for what was central to them to become central to those around them, and I wanted Kwanzaa to be given the same respect. Thankfully, Kwanzaa fell around school holidays, so I had time off until I entered the workforce full-time, and then I began hanging posters with Kwanzaa principles in my office or on my door, changing the principle with each day. No one ever asked me questions about it, interestingly, but that was my way of celebrating outwardly.
So now, as I look at the growing awareness of Juneteenth and the desire of many Black people for it to be recognized, I understand and agree with the need. But I don’t trust what’s happening. I don’t know if it’s the consistent patterns of greed that corporations in America, nay the world, have shown or if it’s the trauma of oppression that my forefathers passed down to me that still courses through my veins. You’ve never been on my side. Well, actually, there were non-Black people who helped end slavery and surrendered power and dismantled injustices in the past centuries too. And I am happy that companies are taking action that shows they are listening. I am especially happy for those who will receive time and a half that day. But back on the other end of the seesaw, I’m on guard. Why now? They’ve had those same centuries to do this. Is this menial to them and thus a “small win” they can give to Black people, or do they actually care? Are they trying to get social media shout-outs for doing the right thing? At the same time, I don’t want to belittle the work that my ancestors, the civil rights movement, the current protesters and rioters, and every single Black person who spoke to their experience over these past few weeks — whether we wanted to or not — that got us to this point. Each of those efforts led us to this moment where people are listening and doing. And aren’t people allowed to learn and grow? I’m not trying to be ungrateful or say that nothing non-Black people do is ever right, but my personal experiences with inequality and injustice have me looking for danger where there ought be safety. And recently having binge watched the final season of How to Get Away with Murder isn’t helping at all!
So, do I want Juneteenth to be recognized as a national holiday? Yes. Absolutely. I just want more that in our 1:1 and small group interactions that you acknowledge my freedom, my equality, my brilliance, how I am sometimes more informed than you, how there are things I still want to learn, simply put, my humanity.
At the same time, my mother taught me that you always write a thank-you note when someone gives you a gift. So here you go, Corporate Ally. Thank you.
