Juneteenth, made a federal holiday two years ago, is celebrated today in commemoration of the emancipation of African Americans. And more companies are recognizing it as a holiday. 

“Juneteenth, also known as ‘Freedom Day,’ ‘Emancipation Day’ or ‘Juneteenth Independence Day,’ commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans,” Charlotte Burrows, chair of the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, said in a statement. “On this day, we celebrate the courage and bravery of African Americans who fought for freedom, and in doing so, made this a better nation. We recognize their strength and honor their resilience.” 

The Pew Research Center reported at least 28 states and the District of Columbia are legally recognizing Juneteenth this year. Mercer reported that 39% of employers are making Juneteenth a holiday this year, up from 33% last year. 

Burrows noted the progress made but recognized the fight for racial justice is not over. 

“The murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and so many other persons of color brought to the forefront not only the relationship between the police and Black and other communities of color, but also broader questions of systemic discrimination, economic inequality, and equal employment opportunity,” she said.  

“Today, the EEOC continues to see harassment cases involving racist graffiti, references to slavery and lynching, and even nooses in workplaces across the country,” Burrows said. “These shameful acts of hatred and bigotry remind us of the fierce urgency of the EEOC’s work.”