Dallas-based Comerica will honor the federal holiday of Juneteenth by giving its 7,500 workers a day off, among other company events.
Department store J.C.Penney will try to engage shoppers in the holiday with a new Juneteenth collection of shirts and sweatshirts emblazoned with phrases such as “Black history is American history.”
And Dallas Southern Pride, an annual celebration of Black LGBTQ individuals, will host six days of events that kicked off Tuesday to celebrate Juneteenth and Pride Month.
A year after racial and social justice leaders staged protests and rallies in Dallas and other major U.S. cities calling for changes in racism and policing, President Biden signed a law putting Juneteenth on par with Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day. At Biden’s side was 95-year-old Fort Worth civil rights activist Opal Lee.
Celebrated by businesses this year on Monday, Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when Union forces landed in Galveston with news that slaves had been emancipated.
Many businesses across Dallas-Fort Worth are celebrating Black history by participating in events and parades. Others are giving employees the day off or an opportunity to hear speakers discuss diversity, equity and inclusion topics.
Harrison Blair, president of the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, said there have been a number of things “accepted by Black residents” for a long time when it comes to Juneteenth. He pointed to products like “Juneteenth ice cream,” which ignited a controversy when Walmart introduced it this year.
“Anything that is going to profit off of a community that a business is not really deeply engaged with is problematic,” Blair said. “Anything that will help us celebrate with the communities that it means to uplift and talk about the history — that’s something that we support wholeheartedly.”
Blair said he sees much improvement this year in how companies are marking the historic holiday.
It can be as simple as teaching staffers why Juneteenth is significant, Blair said. He also pointed to seminars being put on by North Texas businesses to raise employee awareness about the importance of diversity.
“Some of the hard parts are having difficult conversations at work and talking about why we celebrate this holiday,” Blair said. “It’s not comfortable in every workplace because not all Americans agree with the history. It takes a bold company and bold leadership to talk about those things that we know are hard to discuss.”
The Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce is hosting a William Blair Park clean up at 9 a.m. Saturday to bring the community together before the holiday. The chamber will support a number of events throughout the city, Blair said, but he encourages people to learn the history by visiting locations such as the African American Museum at Dallas’ Fair Park or the South Dallas Cultural Center.
At Dallas-based Comerica, the bank and its employees will take off the federal holiday, said Nate Bennett, the bank’s chief diversity officer and head of talent acquisition.
“Juneteenth is critically important for us and our colleagues because we look at it from two perspectives: What are we doing internally for our colleagues? And how are we supporting our communities as it relates to Juneteenth?” Bennett said.
Comerica held a virtual panel discussion on Juneteenth on Wednesday and has a collaborative partnership with the National Association of Black Accountants.
Leading a diverse workforce means fostering an environment where employees feel like they belong, Bennett said. Of Comerica’s U.S. workforce, 41% are racial or ethnic minorities, according to its 2021 diversity, equity and inclusion metrics.
“It’s the opportunity that we have at Comerica to bring our true self to work, to really feel like we have psychological safety and so we’re treated fairly,” Bennett said.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas will also take the day off and brought in the Rev. Deneen Robinson, program director at the Afiya Center in Dallas, earlier this week to speak with employees about the intersections of race, religion, gender and sexuality. The Dallas Fed has 1,200 employees, some of whom are in offices in Houston, San Antonio and El Paso.
It also hosted the Public Relations Society of America for a conversation with Dione Sims, director of Unity Unlimited Inc. and granddaughter of Opal Lee, who’s known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth.’’ The Wednesday conversation focused on why it’s essential to go beyond simply acknowledging Juneteenth.
Federal law requires U.S. employers to decide whether to give their workers a paid day off, though some opt for observing a day of service that can be unpaid.
Dallas-based Match Group will give its employees a paid day off, said Terrance Thomas, its manager of DEI programs. Thomas said Match sent a company-wide email ahead of Juneteenth to encourage employees to take the time to learn more about the day and invited everyone to a Juneteenth celebration Wednesday at its Dallas office.
The company’s “Family Affair” themed event featured traditional Juneteenth dishes, such as red velvet cake, fruits and strawberry hibiscus tea, which symbolizes sacrifice yet celebrates unity, Thomas said. Prosperity foods like cornbread, black-eyed peas and sweet potatoes also were included, he said.
“We want everyone at Match to feel prosperous and lucky this Juneteenth,” Thomas said.
Southwest Airlines spokesman Chris Perry said the Dallas-based carrier offers a floating day off for its 59,000 employees to choose a federal or religious holiday they want to celebrate. Floating holidays can be used for holidays that fall outside of the 10 company holidays, Perry said, such as the employee’s birthday.
“We encourage our employees to celebrate and observe the holidays that are important to them,” Perry said. “Our robust DEI department equips employees to participate in cultural observances throughout the year, including Juneteenth.”
Dallas-based AT&T plans to share a message on Friday from Corey Anthony, the company’s chief diversity officer, about the holiday. At 6 p.m. Saturday, the AT&T Discovery District will host a free Juneteenth picnic and live music by local Black artists Medicine Man Revival and DJ Richy.
One of the first North Texas companies to announce Juneteenth plans was Plano-based J.C. Penney. The company will host a mix of events, products and philanthropic commitments to honor the holiday and benefit the work of Opal Lee. Its executives and workers will a join Lee in Fort Worth on Saturday for her Walk for Freedom, building on a tradition she started in 2016 with 2.5-mile walks representing the 2.5 years it took Emancipation Proclamation enforcement to reach Texas.
“These efforts are the result of creative collaboration across many parts of the organization and J.C. Penney is so pleased to come together to honor this moment,” said Val Harris, its senior vice president of design, brand management and trend.
J.C. Penney stores will remain open on Monday, however, with hourly associates receiving additional holiday pay.
Canadian media firm Thomson Reuters first introduced a paid day-off to its full-time U.S. employees in 2020 and is rolling out the holiday as a part of its official holiday schedule, said Brian Peccarelli, chief operating officer for Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters has over 800 employees in North Texas.
Peccarelli said the company’s Black Employee Network will host a reception Thursday at its Carrollton campus on Thursday in recognition of Juneteenth.
“This is a time employees can come together for learning, fellowship and celebration and is open to all Thomson Reuters employees,” Peccarelli said.
It’s not just a day off work. Other companies are joining in community celebrations as vendors or sponsors.
Dallas Southern Pride, Dallas’ Juneteenth Unity weekend celebrating Black LGBTQ identities, draws over 20,000 people to the region, producing an economic impact of $2.2 million last year, said Kirk Myers-Hill, the group’s president.
Popular retail spaces like the Galleria in Dallas and Legacy West in Plano also have events planned on the holiday. The Galleria commissioned a t-shirt design by artist Nikki Dionne, who is known for her portrayal of Black life in America.
At Legacy West, a fashion show in Legacy Hall will showcase local Black designers and creatives. These include: House Of Dasha, Don Morphy, Ese Azenabor, 1 Street Sales, creteation, Handmade Statement Earrings & Accessories, Indigo 1745, Amy Holly Caftans, Energy Check, PWR WMN and MEZAI Accessories.
The Dallas Cowboys are hosting an event Saturday at The Star in Frisco that highlights Black-owned businesses and the Frisco Inclusion Committee.
Featured businesses include: Brandon Harris Art, Customs by AK, Design by Society, EMBODI, Energy Gardens Living Decor, Hoppin’ Preps, Infinity Candle Co., JJ Carson Press, Kerry Lofton, Kessler Baking Studio, Lilac Tattoo Studio, Nard Got Sole, OV’s Tamu, Pieces of Us by Us, Rose Style Studio, The Painted Phoenix and Wilder Sweet.
For businesses that want to go further than recognizing the holiday, Blair said the key is continuing the conversation. He said workplaces need to consider committees or historical groups to take deeper dives into Juneteenth history and issues affecting Blacks.
“Sharing the cultural history of Dallas doesn’t hurt us, it makes us stronger,” he said.
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