Juneteenth: The significance of freedom and access to opportunity

Elected officials and leaders in the technology industry discussed the importance of celebrating Juneteenth, and also bridging the digital divide to create access to high-speed internet for New York State residents, in a webinar hosted by news magazine City and State, in partnership with Spectrum, on June 14.

Speakers in the webinar included Hope Knight, the CEO and president of Empire State Development, New York State Senator Kevin Parker who represents the 21st District, and New York State Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman who represents the 29th District.

New York State Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman (29th District). Photo by Milette Millington

On June 19, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865, two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. They were there to take control of the state, ensuring that all enslaved people were freed. Read more about the history of the holiday here: https://www.history.com/news/what-is-juneteenth.

The day was recognized as a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, under the Biden administration, and it is considered the longest-running African American holiday.

“The COVID-19 pandemic exposed how inaccessible and how unreliable a broadband connection was for many New Yorkers. Even as we continue to navigate the post-pandemic landscape, we know that closing the digital divide is critical to unlocking economic growth and reducing inequalities in our society,” Knight said.

She then shared that New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul and her administration launched the Connect All initiative in March of last year, to ensure all New Yorkers have reliable and affordable internet.

Jon Lentz, from City and State magazine, hosted the webinar. Photo by Milette Millington

“A pillar of Gov. Hochul’s initiative is ensuring equitable access to broadband statewide. Digital equity also means that everyone should have the skills and resources to benefit from the digital economy. Our investments in this area will include growing digital literacy programs and computer access so everyone has the opportunity to use the internet,” she added.

Assemblymember Hyndman placed emphasis on educating African Americans about Juneteenth and what it means for our community.

“I’m a real big fan of Juneteenth in Queens. We do a reenactment of what it might have meant to those enslaved Black people at the time of learning of their freedom in Galveston, Texas. We encourage our school district, District 29, to make sure the children don’t stay home but come to the park, learn about what Juneteenth is,” she said.

She added that the holiday gives teachers an opportunity to explain what it means and have conversations about it. “For me, the educator, it’s about the constant learning, not just for the children, but for the parents, the grandparents, who may never have heard of this who get to celebrate this,” she said.

Camille Joseph Goldman is the group’s vice president of government affairs at Charter Communications (commonly known as Spectrum), who sponsored the event. Photo by Milette Millington

Those who are interested in attending the Juneteenth in Queens celebration this year can find more information and register here: https://www.juneteenthinqueens.com/register.

State Sen. Parker pointed out that with the digital divide, there are two problems: build up and affordability. He echoed Knight’s statement on the pandemic impact, placing emphasis on the need for a significant partnership to close the divide.

Parker added that next year, he’d “like to see a lot more lectures. It would be great to see Spectrum host a set of lectures around the city about the period of enslavement, and even the period of Reconstruction and what happened immediately after,” he said.

“What I would like to see on Juneteenth next year is more celebrations like we see in Queens, in every borough,” he added.