Fifth Third Employees Reflect on Juneteenth
As Fifth Third marked the occasion of Juneteenth on Monday, June 19, Bank employees reflected on the importance of the holiday. Juneteenth, the oldest-known celebration marking the end of slavery in the United States, was first recognized by the state of Texas.
“As I reflect on the importance of Juneteenth, I’m overcome with a sense of pride, responsibility, awareness and profound gratitude. For me, it is equal parts celebration of the triumphs after centuries of unimaginable suffering, yet remembrance that we are the living manifestation of our ancestor’s wildest dreams, and that we all have a duty to continue the fight against injustice and systemic racism that remains prevalent today. I believe President Barack Obama framed it best when he stated, ‘Juneteenth has never been a celebration of victory or an acceptance of the way things are. It’s a celebration of progress. It’s an affirmation that, despite the most painful parts of our history, change is possible – and there is still so much work to do.’ What we observe and celebrate matters. My hope for this holiday is that we all find ways to observe Juneteenth in community with others, embracing it as an opportunity to learn about and celebrate our individual cultures as well as our shared humanity.”
– Brittany Hughes, Commercial relationship manager, Chicago.
“For me, Juneteenth is a reminder of a time when many Blacks were unaware of their freedom simply because they were denied access to the knowledge that they were, indeed, free! That drives me to share, educate, expose and nurture the uninformed and underrepresented so that they may all have access to the resources they need to live rich and fulfilling lives.”
– Robert McGhee, community impact territory manager, north region, Chicago.
“Let's commemorate Juneteenth by acknowledging the past, embracing the present and preparing for the future. I would like to encourage each employee to take this time to read literature related to the history of Juneteenth by authors like Frederick Douglass, Toni Morrison and others. Engage in activities that will educate our youth. Volunteer and attend any community-organized programming and support a Black-owned business.”
– Samantha Rogers, line of business lead business analyst in Cincinnati.
Fifth Third Bank is celebrating Juneteenth throughout the month of June with customer-, community- and employee-focused events.
