NBA celebrates Juneteenth as a paid holiday

For the first time in the league’s history, the NBA is recognizing Juneteenth as a holiday. Following the lead of the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers, the NBA as an organization has given all employees a paid day off in recognition of Juneteenth. The WNBA is doing the same.

To use the NBA’s description, Juneteenth is the USA’s oldest national holiday commemorating the emancipation from slavery. Below is the 76ers official tweet announcing the meaning of the holiday to their organization.

Juneteenth is a celebration of June 19, 1865. On that day, news of emancipation reached Galveston, Texas, and slaves there were informed that they were free. It is widely accepted these people were among the very last to be notified, meaning Juneteenth commemorates the first day that all slaves were officially emancipated.

Along with recognizing this historic day with a paid holiday, the NBA is hosting many workshops, events and storytelling opportunities across its social media spheres. The league is giving Black players a platform to educate fans and discuss what the holiday means to them. Check the NBA’s Twitter profile for more news, videos and information on events that are being held.

Featured Image courtesy of NBA

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