As the saying goes, the news never stops. In this weekly news roundup, we’ll cover the top news stories impacting American workplaces and communities.
1. Independence Day and Juneteenth: A Historical Contrast
On Tuesday, July 4, many American workplaces will close their offices in observance of Independence Day. While the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, not all Americans gained freedom that day.
Black people were enslaved for almost another 100 years after that and didn’t gain their independence until June 19, 1865, known as Juneteenth. Congress made July 4 a federal holiday in 1870, while Juneteenth was recognized as a national holiday in 2021.