Monday is Juneteenth which commemorates the day in 1865 when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to read a federal order effectively abolishing the institution of slavery in the state and the county. This was despite slavery being legally abolished months earlier. Today, we reflect on the heavy toll of slavery and the systemic racism and inequality that persisted after slavery was abolished. It is also a time to remember how long it took from the legal end of slavery until it was implemented nationwide.
In the context of our department, this gives us time to think about our commitment to diversity and what we can do to make an inclusive environment. This is a reminder about the importance of the policies and processes we agreed to implement as a group and why we must follow them in this context. Our department agreed to follow desired behaviors and not engage in unacceptable conduct and behaviors listed on our website. There are a few behaviors that are especially poignant to consider on Juneteenth.
Desired behaviors are: making inclusion the norm; giving consistent messaging; and accountability. Unacceptable behaviors are: engaging in microaggressions or exclusionary behaviors; silence about intolerance; undermining decisions with negative messaging; and self-service at the expense of common goals.
Please join me in reflecting on these issues and others on Juneteenth and recommitting to following desired behaviors to make us, our department, Duke, health care, our community, and the world more equitable and inclusive. Achieving these goals will result in substantial benefits for all of us!
All the best,
Ben