Today is Juneteenth, a celebration of the day Union soldiers told enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, that they were free. Despite it being one of the oldest holidays commemorated in this country, it’s still not familiar to many outside the Black community.
For many in the Black community, Juneteenth represents both the progress towards racial justice in the US, but also the reality of how systemic racism has historically impacted and still permeates our society today. Now, Juneteenth 2020 is gaining national attention and renewed prominence, in much part to the Black Lives Matter groundswell that has dramatically shifted the conversation in the United States — and around the world — to one around anti-racism and the systemic oppression of Black people.
Imaginable Futures made a statement of our commitment, like many others, and I am thankful that we are advancing our own “JEDI” (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) work and appreciative that we are closed for today’s Juneteenth holiday. But as a Black man, I want more immediate actions from my industry and those around me (read this recent piece I co-authored in TechCrunch on VC firms needing to invest in diverse founders).
Besides our value of Justice Seekers, Imaginable Futures values being Courageous Learners. Therefore, to make this day more meaningful and promote learning with action, I am sharing the resources I’ve come across through my networks to combat racism. I hope these resources are helpful to you and you are encouraged to share them among your friends, family, colleagues and other spheres of influence.
Resources for Individual Allies (learning about systemic racism, how to talk about race, learning about implicit bias)
Resources for Sourcing Diverse Talent
DEI Job Platforms & Tech Tools
Organizations w/ DEI Talent
DEI Pipeline Lists
DEI Talent Consultants
Resources for elevating equity and inclusion within your organization
Resources for children and families