At JCPenney, we encourage our associates and invite customers to join us in raising awareness for Juneteenth, Saturday, June 19, as a historic celebration across the nation in honor of creating lasting change for racial diversity.
This day celebrates the news of freedom for the enslaved by the Emancipation Proclamation reaching Texas and the southern United States and will now be a nationally observed holiday.
Raising Awareness for Juneteenth
In 2020, JCPenney first recognized Juneteenth as a Company holiday. Our corporate offices and supply chain facilities will observe Juneteenth on Friday, June 18, and our Stores will observe on Saturday, June 19. As a permanent Company-wide holiday, hourly associates working to serve our customers on Juneteenth will receive additional holiday pay.
Further commemorating this holiday, JCPenney has also made a financial contribution to Unity Unlimited, Inc., a nonprofit organization started by 94-year-old activist Opal Lee, a lifelong Texan who has campaigned to make Juneteenth a national holiday, to provide resources, activities, and connections to support the cause of unity and harmony within the communities of Fort Worth, the state of Texas, America, and the world.
Opal Lee began her quest in 2016 with her first 2.5 mile walk in an effort to raise awareness of the 2.5 years it took for the news of freedom to reach Texas. Known today as Opal’s Walk, many supporters join together in Fort Worth, Texas each year on a mission to make Juneteenth a national holiday.
This year, we have provided our more than 50,000 associates with educational resources and encouraging them to attend Juneteenth celebrations, virtually or in-person, including joining our JCPenney team to participate in Opal’s Walk for Juneteenth.
Through continuing James Cash Penney’s founding principle of treating others as we want to be treated, we move forward in achieving lasting change for all.
