Recognizing Juneteenth from Hillbrook's Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
By Gulliver LaValle, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
This week, Hillbrook recognizes the importance and significance of Juneteenth. Juneteenth, celebrated each year on June 19, recognizes the day in 1865 when black slaves in Texas learned they were free. More than 150 years later, communities celebrate this milestone both as a signal of what is possible in our country and also as a solemn reminder of the important work that still needs to be done. Particularly this year, amidst the backdrop of the ongoing horrific murders of black men and women and yet also the growing strength of the Black Lives Matter movement, there is a profound sense of loss and possibility. Around the state and country, Black communities are uniting in cultural solidarity around food, music, and art. Many Black communities also observe Juneteenth as a way to acknowledge the ongoing challenges we face around systemic racism in our society and find empowerment in the jubilant celebrations of culture, activism, and the humanity of all.
Bryan Stevenson, the ED of the Equal Justice Initiative, who founded the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, was interviewed on Democracy Now! discussing the importance of narrative and history in fights for justice. Here is part two of the interview.