Juneteenth largely has been just another work day at most companies _ until now.
In the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of police and the demands for racial equality that have followed, many employers will be marking the day on Friday _ by closing offices and giving employees a paid day off.
Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, marks June 19, 1865, the day Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce the end of the Civil War and slavery. The day came more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, granting freedom to slaves, but slavery had continued in some Confederate states.
June 19 is not a federal holiday, although Illinois recognizes the holiday on the third Saturday of June. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam on Tuesday proposed making it a holiday in his state. But some employees say having workplaces recognize the day is a step toward improved diversity and inclusion.
Fifth Third Bank announced Monday it will close all of its branches and offices at 2 p.m. Friday. It will be the first time the Cincinnati-based bank has observed Juneteenth. All employees will be paid for the time off.
"Juneteenth means a lot. And right now, in the wake of everything that's happening, you have these political movements, you've got Black Lives Matter ... it's a stepping stone," said Sharnette Katherine-Keith, an assistant vice president and Financial Center manager at a Fifth Third branch on the South Side of Chicago. "It's like, 'OK, we understand. We understand that this is an important day ... Let's honor that day.' "
Katherine-Keith plans to spend time with her husband and children, ages 12 and 16. Though her family recognizes the significance of Juneteenth, she said it's normally not a day filled with cookouts and other celebrations. Usually, she has to work.
"We've always been conditioned to look toward Independence Day because that's the day off and that's the national holiday," she said. "I think it's something we can start to do on the same level that we do Independence Day."
Chicago-based food delivery platform Grubhub is giving its roughly 2,700 employees the day off Friday, as is Lyft. Both companies' drivers will still be working.
Having eight hours to just reflect on Juneteenth and spend time with family instead of working is something Zakiya Blair, senior community associate at Lyft, said she has never been able to do. She's already had conversations with her parents and sister, who has young children, about how to celebrate. Blair said her fiance, who drives for Lyft, plans to take the day off in observance of the holiday, too.
"I don't think companies knew that it was a national holiday that African American individuals needed to reflect, just like the Fourth of July," she said. "I don't think that companies knew until now."
Nike, the NFL, Target, U.S. Bank and other national corporations are giving their employees the day Friday, too, as are smaller employers.
The private sector's recognition of Juneteenth could help bolster movements for national and local observance of the holiday, said LaCreshia Birts, co-chair of the Black Remembrance Project. The grassroots organization has been pushing for the city of Chicago to recognize Juneteenth as a holiday.
But the push shouldn't have to come from corporations, Birts said.
"It has become very apparent that this country has not reckoned with its history," she said. "The fact that companies are choosing to celebrate Juneteenth and our nation hasn't, I think it says a lot about how far it needs to go."
