On September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued his famous Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that at the start of the next year, more than 3.5 million enslaved African Americans in Confederate states be freed. But due to societal and geographical reasons, some states disregarded Lincoln’s executive order. Because it was so remote and so few Union troops made their way out west, it sadly took another two and a half years before some bigger states like Texas fully acknowledged the proclamation. But on June 19, 1865, it was finally officially enforced. “Juneteenth” events became an annual celebration in Texas, and in 1979, the state declared it an official holiday. Soon enough, other states followed suit—one of the first being Illinois, the state in which Katalyst Technologies was incorporated.
Katalyst is proud to join in commemorating this momentous occasion in 2020. The last few weeks have seen enormous challenges for the Black community, but we at Katalyst have also been inspired by the tremendous actions and messages of hope and triumph. Since its founding, Katalyst has always embraced and celebrated diversity, and the idea that people of all different backgrounds could come together and build something far greater than the sum of their parts. Many of the employees at Katalyst are first-generation Americans who came to this country in search of the proverbial American dream.
Juneteenth is, indeed, a sobering reflection of the American dream, tying together themes of both liberation and a reminder that the country did not always hold to its foundational promise that “all men are created equal.” Thus, on June 19, 2020, and every day hereafter, Katalyst is committed to ensuring that all our employees, clients, and partners know that their voices are heard and acknowledged.
“This day is one during which we should all pause, stop, and think of ways in which we could do more to combat the ills of prejudice and bigotry,” says Rahul Shah, CEO, and founder of Katalyst Software Services Limited. “That self-reflection will be key to instituting changes that impact our workplace and society at large.”
The leaders and employees at Katalyst are working to create a better future for citizens of all races. This will not be an easy or quick process, but it is one of which we will not allow ourselves to fall short. For many, this will be the first year they are celebrating Juneteenth—or perhaps even the first time they are aware of it. But it’s so important that we take this opportunity to recognize how far America has come in its 244-year existence—and how much further we still have to go.
