In honor of Juneteenth on June 19, the African American Shipbuilders Association (AASA) is encouraging all shipbuilders to celebrate diversity and inclusion at Ingalls. One of the key ways to do that is through understanding why the holiday is acknowledged.
AASA is highlighting the following facts about Juneteenth to help provide a lens through which new perspectives might be seen.
Did you know?
- Juneteenth is a holiday celebrated annually on June 19 since 1866
- The holiday’s name is a combination of the words “June” and “nineteenth” and is also known as Jubilee Day
- The holiday’s origin began in Galveston, Texas, where more than 250,000 enslaved African Americans were being exploited by slaveholders
- Slavery was federally abolished on Jan. 1, 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln under the Emancipation Proclamation
- The United States was divided into Union and Confederate territories
- The Proclamation could not be implemented in places still under Confederate control
- African Americans were actually freed two-and-a-half-years before they were informed on June 19, 1865, when Gen. Gordon Granger led over 2,000 Union troops into Galveston announcing that slavery had been abolished by executive order
- The first celebration of Juneteenth commenced in 1866 in Galveston
- The holiday was not nationally recognized until 2021, when it was declared a federal holiday after Congress passed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act
- The celebration of Juneteenth extends beyond the U.S.
- In Mexico, Nacimeiento de los Negros, meaning “birth of Blacks,” became a haven for descendants of the Mascogos who escaped brutality of the Antebellum South
Valuing diversity and inclusion is a critical component of the culture at Ingalls. Treating each other with respect, dignity and fairness is the key to bringing together talented people and achieving Ingalls’ mission to build world-class ships for the military that are safe, reliable and mission-ready.
Having a place to BELONG enables us to leverage our diverse community of shipbuilders and make certain everyone has an opportunity to do their best work, ensuring that each of us is respected and that we support one another in achieving our mission and purpose. ERGs are committed to supporting diversity and inclusion at Ingalls.
References:
What Does Juneteenth Celebrate? The History of the Holiday | PBS
Just across the border, this Mexican community also celebrates Juneteenth (nationalgeographic.com)