A Look at What Juneteenth Means to Some of DOMA's Employees

For Juneteenth we would like to share some of DOMA's employee stories

June 19, 2022

Although it’s only been recently recognized as a federal holiday, Juneteenth has been celebrated as far back as 1865 and is a pivotal moment in American history. As we celebrate this year, we wanted to learn more about what Juneteenth means to some of our employees, so we asked them about the holiday and how they celebrate it in a survey.

The way corporations acknowledge and celebrate diversity varies widely. Every year the Marketing and Communications team writes a variety of technology-focused blog posts tied to holidays and the Heritage Months. This year we would like to begin including more input from our other team members. Here are a few questions we asked our team, and what they had to say:

When did you first learn about Juneteenth?

Most of our respondents did not know about this holiday until adulthood. Juneteenth marks the anniversary of the announcement of General Order No. 3 by Union Army general Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, proclaiming freedom for enslaved people in Texas and has been celebrated by many communities in America since then in one form or another.

How do you plan to celebrate Juneteenth this year?

For many, 2021 was the first year that they celebrated Juneteenth, thanks to its recognition as a national holiday. Most of our respondents will be celebrating with a BBQ or family gathering. Educational events, cook-outs, concerts, and exhibitions are some additional ways many commemorate the holiday.

“This year is just about calling my family and saying I love them, while also lifting up black voices in my community.” – Chynamarie Colon

” Having a cookout with some friends who share stories learned/told by their grandparents, families, etc. Then candles in honor of all those that fought to get this far.” – Star Hayes

Is there a personal impact a black member of your family or community has had on you that you’d like to honor?

“I have been blessed with a wonderful girlfriend this past year. She is caring, kind and always knows how to make me laugh! She and her family have shown me so much kindness and love, it has been such a blessing. I have learned so much from them over the past year and I hope to keep learning more!”

Chynamarie Colon

My Aunt Victoria “Vicki”.

She is the one who guided me through a lot of racism, classism, and prejudice and taught me to never discriminate.

My what it means to be black in America, and no matter where I go I will always be black and to never forget that.

LeGary Aeternum

What historical figure who helped shape African American history had a deep impact on you and why?

Katherine Johnson (An American mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics as a NASA employee were critical to the success of the first and the subsequent U.S. crewed spaceflights. Learn More)

She taught me to not only be myself but you be intelligent and black. Intelligence isn’t just for other races and to acquire all knowledge you can.

Let me write my own question or share my own story…

Juneteenth is more than a holiday, it is another day to reflect on how far we have come and how much more work needs to be done.

LeGary Aeternum

How Should Corporate America Celebrate Juneteenth?

When we posed this question, the consensus was that a paid holiday and the acknowledgment of the day itself was a great start. We know that there is a lot we can do as a company to make people feel like they are an integral part of our corporate culture. Next year we plan to reach out to more team members and gather ideas from our creative community on how we can recognize cultural holidays like Juneteenth (and the many others that people celebrate!)

In corporate America, everyone enjoys a day off, but cultural holidays like Juneteenth are more than just a chance to take a much-needed break. They are also an important part of how we celebrate our heritage, connect with one another, and develop our individual identities.

There is an increasing demand to make workplaces more representative of the diverse communities they reside in. Every department from HR to finance has a role to play in ensuring everyone on our team feels celebrated, included, and safe.

For Marketing and Communications, including more of our team in shaping our cultural holiday content and the language we use is a small step in better representing how dynamic our diverse community is. We always say our team is our most important asset. So, moving forward we want to help you get to know that amazing team through surveys, contributing writers, and employee spotlights. Whether you’re already a DOMA employee, a prospective hire, or just a reader passing through, we hope a more intimate look at our culture and the people who drive it will help you see what sets DOMA apart.

About DOMA- Powered by Tech, Driven by People

DOMA Technologies (DOMA) is a software development and digital transformation company whose mission is to change customer lives by lightening their workload through faster and more targeted access to their data. Since 2000, our team of 200+ experts has helped businesses navigate all aspects of the digital world. We are a dedicated strategic partner for the federal government and private sector clients at every stage of their unique digital transformation journey.