Juneteenth: Celebrating Liberation Amidst Modern Inequality
Four years ago, the nation and the city of Atlanta was reeling from the brutal murder of George Floyd. The barbaric act launched protests, marches, and calls for changes to law enforcement policies. Black Lives Matter signs could be spotted in the wealthiest of communities across town.
But what has really changed? Have we ended prejudicial behavior towards Black people in this country?
The History of Juneteenth: Then & Now
Juneteenth is meant to be a holiday that celebrates the liberation of enslaved people in the United States after the Civil War. While slavery is a thing of the past in our nation, Black people in this country remain in bondage to a system that was never meant to protect them.
It is hard to get a leg up in society, when your ancestors started so many steps behind centuries ago. Education is always the great equalizer, but when some parents are working two to three jobs to keep up with paying bills, it’s hard to find time to go over homework, or do extra lessons with their school-aged children. The lack of affordable housing, especially here in Atlanta, limits where people can establish themselves, much less purchase their first homes. When you think about transportation to work, most of us take for granted the ability to drive to and from the office (or work remote), but people on fixed incomes often must take jobs close by or rely on public transportation. The list of odds is stacked incredibly high against the Black community.
How to be an anti-racist
There’s no one size fits all approach to ending racism. But I want to suggest these steps as a way for you to do your part.
1. Own your privilege: If you are not part of a minority group in this country, you are a benefactor of privilege. So now is the time to use it. At work, do you put your privilege to good use by amplifying voices at the table? What about recruiting rising talent from HBCUs?
2. Recognize Your Bias: Each of us carries unconscious bias in our minds, whether we want to admit it or not. Saying you don’t see color can often be a harmful statement for Black people to hear, because our lives are different from the very beginning based upon the color of our skin. Challenge yourself to go deeper and take the Harvard Implicit Bias exam to see where you stand.
3. Actively listen: Are you a safe space for others to come to and share their experiences? Be open to providing an open door to the Black people in your life to share what’s on their mind, without adding in your own opinion.
The Time is Now for Action
This Juneteenth, let us all recognize that there is no more time to wait, we can’t ignore issues hoping someone can solve them, and the government can’t manage what acts of hatred happen in communities each day.
The late Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”
Today, I encourage you to choose the right side of history. And it starts in your heart.
Chaundra Luckett is the Chief Marketing Officer at CHRIS 180.
