Honoring Juneteenth

June 23, 2022

Honoring Juneteenth

On June 19, 2022, we celebrated Juneteenth for the second time as a federal holiday. As the holiday approaches, it brings to mind the incredible sacrifices that have been made to push our society to this point. On the backs of many, we can stand on higher ground than the generation before us. When thinking about Juneteenth, I read an article that described slaves as those "kept unfree". Those words resonated with me. Throughout the past few years, we have had a revitalization in the civil rights movement. Many Americans felt like "the movement" was over and no longer needed. The disparate treatment of black and brown people has been pushed to the forefront of our minds. We are more cognizant of the strides we still need to make. The strides for us all to be "free". As an African American woman, there have been many times when the color of my skin determined how I was treated. My skin is not the sum of me. My race should never determine the respect I deserve.

In commemoration of Juneteenth, I also reflect on what it means to me to work for a diverse company. I am pleased to work for a company that has made diversity and inclusion a part of its mission. I work with an incredibly diverse, intelligent, and talented group of people.

Representation matters. I have heard many times how the ability to see someone who looks like them has inspired a person to dream bigger. Diversity provides encouragement. It gives hope. If I see it, I believe it. If I see it, I can dream it. My colleagues come from an array of different races, backgrounds, and countries. When a corporation has a diverse workforce, we learn invaluable lessons. We learn empathy. We learn how to humanize others. We learn to embrace and celebrate our differences. We learn to use those differences as strengths and work as a united team.

Diversity and inclusion are not a gimmick or trend. Not my skin or anyone else's should ever determine the treatment we receive. How we treat others directly impacts their lives, as well as our own. I hope that the work I do for my company and my community makes a positive impact. The more that we talk and bring attention to these important matters, the more we bring light to them. These discussions can touch someone and open their eyes to a new perspective. I hope someone reads this article and is reminded that for every milestone that we celebrate, we all can work together to move us all just a bit further.

Sincerely,

SaRetta Brown

Associate General Counsel