On the eve of the USA's first celebration of Juneteenth there are only three companies in observation.

June 17, 2021
By Tim Nelson

Best Buy is joining Target and U.S. Bank (click here) with plans to observe Juneteenth, the June 19 celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, as a company holiday.

The Richfield-based electronics and appliance retailer says it is taking a two-step approach to the holiday. It starts this year with a paid volunteer day that can be taken Friday or any other day this year. Starting in 2021, Juneteenth will be a paid company holiday.

Best Buy says it is phasing in the holiday since the change comes just a few days before the holiday....

Oh my, they had short notice. When the Republicans passed that ridiculous tax bill there was nothing but short notice to file for refunds from the year 2016 and alter the amount businesses had to pay in 2017 taxes. That was short notice, too, but, they managed to pull it off. But, somehow, the CEOs across the USA can't seem to take this holiday seriously for its meaning and statement about human rights. ONLY THREE major corporations have CEOs that can be this organized. Amazing.

Juneteenth did not crop up overnight. The request for this national holiday has been around for a long time.

June 15, 2021

By Sudiksha Kochi and N'dea Yancey-Bragg

On June 19, (click here) Americans will celebrate Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the day news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached Texas, with block parties, cookouts and educational events. 

While Juneteenth celebrates the Emancipation Proclamation, which only freed slaves in the South, the 13th Amendment is what officially ended slavery in the U.S.

The holiday is looking a little different from most years.

Millions of Americans took to the streets to protest racial injustice last summer in response to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other Black Americans. The protest movement sparked an ongoing dialogue around systemic racism and police brutality.

The protests also raised attention for the importance of Juneteenth as companies including Nike, Twitter and Uber are giving employees paid days off.

With 144 million Americans fully vaccinated against COVID-19, many will gather in person after celebrating virtually in 2020.

Here's what you need to know about the history of Juneteenth and what celebrations are taking place this year....

Any major corporations in the USA headed up by White Supremacists/Nationalists? Other than the well-known racist NRA? (click here)

Tomorrow is a national holiday and EVERYONE should be on board.