Friday is Juneteenth.
As we struggle as a country–and as a world–to make sense of racial injustice that feels senseless and wrong, leaning into history and examining “what we always thought” are critical to our efforts to move forward.
I did NOT learn about Juneteenth in history classes…
And I did NOT think about what freedom and independence meant for ALL Americans…
But I am paying closer attention…
Because it’s not enough to be “not racist”…
Right now, we’re called upon to take action against racism.
How? Speak out, stand up, and show up as an ally to defend the civil rights of ALL. (yes, it will take work!)
So why is June 19th significant?
Watch this short video for an intro to Juneteenth:
Someone asked in my Facebook group, “What are your anti-racism policies for your business?” And that made me think.
Because my only “anti-racism” policies were in my own mind and heart–they were not on paper or on my sleeve or on my website….
But it’s time to remedy this, right?….
So if you’re like me and you did NOT think about this (because you did not “have to” or you thought it “goes without saying because you’re not a racist”), let me share how I’m beginning to fix this careless omission by amending my About page to include the following:
At Floral Artistry, we believe in a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment , where all employees, clients and vendors–whatever their gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or identity–feel valued and respected.
This is a small step, but an important one. So if you are committed to “doing better” in your own biz practices, a statement about your company’s values is a simple way to start.
In fact, I added a 2nd statement to my Core Values page as well:
Floral Artistry respects and values diverse life experiences and heritages and aims to ensure that all voices are valued and well served regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation.
If you’re missing a statement like this you are not alone and it’s never too late to update and show up as an ally in your business.
If you have a resource or a statement on anti-racism that you want to share, please do so in a comment!
xo. -Alison
Here’s more about why all Americans should honor Juneteenth…