Monday, June 19th, is Juneteenth, a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved Americans. Although the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation marked the end of the Civil War and the defeat of the Confederacy, unfortunately, states such as Texas continued the practice of enslavement. It took two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, on June 19, 1865, when 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, to free the last of the enslaved Black people in the United States.
Juneteenth is called “Freedom Day” and Black Independence Day, but the portmanteau “Juneteenth” combines June and nineteenth. It has been celebrated in Black communities nationwide since the late 1800s. And in 2021, President Biden made Juneteenth a Federal Holiday, expanding access and entry to understanding the significance of this holiday to all Americans.
The Female Quotient will host the Equality Lounge @ Cannes Lions this week and has taken several steps to honor this important holiday. The celebration begins with a featured Juneteenth conversation in the Equality Lounge at 4:30 pm CEST / 10:30 am ET / 7:30 am PT, where I’ll moderate, “A Step In History: How Juneteenth Inspired Global Equality and Impact.” Watch live and join the discussion in The Female Quotient LinkedIn comments.
The Juneteenth celebration at The Female Quotient will continue with the Kickback on the Croisette, a happy hour event with traditional food, drinks, music, games, and fellowship at the Palais des Festivals’ Executive Terrace. We are excited to partner with Lippe Taylor, Cannes Lions, and The One Club for Creativity to bring the first-ever official Juneteenth celebration to the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity. And I’m excited to co-host to support the effort to share the holiday with a larger global community. Learn more about Kickback on the Croisette and RSVP here.
Our work at The Female Quotient is all about inclusion. Participating in cultural events and honoring cultural moments is a critical piece to changing the equation, and I am thrilled to support our effort to celebrate the holiday at Cannes this year.
You can RSVP and find the full list of activities taking place at the Equality Lounge here or join the community conversation live or later in The Female Quotient LinkedIn comments.
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