Global financial service platform Kabbage announced on Thursday it will now and always recognize Juneteeth as a company holiday.
Juneteeth is an official American holiday and an official Texas state holiday that celebrates annually on the 19th of June to commemorate Union army general, Gordon Granger, and his reading of federal orders in the city of Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, that proclaimed all slaves in Texas were officially free. Speaking about the holiday, Kabbage’s team shared:
“In that spirit, we will forever honor this day and ensure that this holiday is met with action to enact change. Although a small gesture, we believe it’s critical to observe Juneteenth and encourage our team to spend more time supporting, promoting, and elevating black history and black communities.”
Kabbage also stated it calls upon others to join in the celebration of Juneteenth. Participate in local events, learn more about black history, support organizations seeking racial equality, and buy from black-owned small businesses in your community. Kabbage Co-Founder and President, Kathryn Petralia, added:
“Recognizing Juneteenth as a holiday in our country is a very small step in the right direction, one that is woefully overdue. Advancing anti-racism, racial equity and equality, and the Black Lives Matter movement requires all forms of change and this is one way to make progress.”