by Priyanka Subrahmanyam
What is Juneteenth?
On June 19, 1865, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, General Major Gordan Granger of the United States Army declared in Galveston, Texas, that all slaves were free. His words marked the true end of slavery in the United States, freeing more than 250,000 slaves in Texas.
Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday in 2021 and commemorates our country’s second independence day. Across America, individuals choose to observe the holiday differently. Some celebrate with cookouts, parades and cultural activities while others focus on remembrance through community service, educational panels or visits to African American history museums. A common tradition is serving red colored foods like red velvet cake and hibiscus tea. For these cultures, red embodies power, sacrifice and transformation.
Anyone can celebrate Juneteenth! If you’re unsure how to mark the day sensitively, Dr. Karida Brown, a sociology professor at Emory University, encourages expanding knowledge of the holiday’s significance. For those without personal ties to the holiday, she suggests education as a form of allyship. Reading up on Black history, supporting Black-owned businesses and visiting museums can broaden understanding and foster a more authentic celebration.
“Have that full human experience of seeing yourself in and through the eyes of others, even if that’s not your own lived experience”
Dr. Karida Brown
How is HC+M building a diverse community?
At HC+M, we recognize that each team member has a unique background, and we are committed to honoring the diversity that strengthens and enriches our businesses and our communities.
In 2002, Heritage Construction + Materials increased the number of paid holidays it provides to 11 days. Adding both Martin Luther King, Jr Day and a floating holiday to its paid holiday calendar. This change was one small step in our journey to make our HC+M companies more equitable and inclusive places to work. The floating holiday allows employees the flexibility to observe holidays that are meaningful to their own culture or religion, like Juneteenth.
Heritage Construction + Materials (HC+M) is part of The Heritage Group, a privately held, family-owned business headquartered in Indianapolis. HC+M has core capabilities in infrastructure building. Its collection of companies provides innovative road construction and materials services across the Midwest. HC+M companies, including Asphalt Materials, Inc., Evergreen Roadworks, Milestone Contractors and US Aggregates, proudly employ 3,000 people at 68 locations across seven states. Learn more at www.heritagebuilds.com.
