Black History

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Today, the Sacramento Kings announced the designation of a company-wide annual paid holiday to observe Juneteenth on Friday, June 19, the oldest nationally celebrated holiday commemorating emancipation from slavery in the United States. The anniversary will provide team members an opportunity to pause, further educate themselves and participate in civic engagement.

“We are proud to celebrate Juneteenth, honoring Black history and further committing ourselves to creating positive meaningful change,” said Sacramento Kings Chief Operating Officer Matina Kolokotronis. “The Kings remain dedicated to working with our community to address racial inequity through sustained action.”

The team will continue to share educational resources online at Kings.com/Juneteenth and on social media platforms in the coming days including a video produced by the organization’s Black and Beyond employee resource group, whose goal is to support and promote the talent of Black team members through professional development and community service initiatives.

Kings team members will participate in the Black Child Legacy Campaign (BCLC) and Build.Black. “Week of Action” which includes community conversations and peace marches for these events, the team has donated 10,000 masks to event organizers for participating guests and volunteers.. The team will also support the 26th annual Juneteenth festival to take place this year virtually from June 19-28.

Earlier this month, the Kings developed and announced a “Pledge to Our Black Community” to help combat social and racial injustice and invest in meaningful change. The team also debuted a PSA calling for unity and action in the wake of George Floyd’s brutal murder at the hands of police, in collaboration with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Lynx and Sacramento Area Youth Speaks. Additionally, on June 6, Kings players, coaches, executives and team members joined “A Peaceful Protest for Our Rights” that began at Golden 1 Center and ended at Cesar Chavez Plaza. Kings Assistant Coach Bobby Jackson helped to organize the peaceful community protest and tipped off the program calling for unity and justice. Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé addressed the crowd of thousands gathered, saying, “We have just one message – Black Lives Matter.” Kings forward Harrison Barnes also spoke about the importance of protesting to raise awareness and showing up at the voting booth.

The Kings have worked to addressed social injustices, including systemic inequality, through partnerships and programs aimed at creating safe spaces for Black youth in Sacramento, fostering open and honest conversations and reducing stigma around incarcerated individuals. Over the past two years, the Kings have partnered with the Build.Black. Coalition to deeply invest in Black youth locally, launched the Team Up for Change summit series to address issues of social injustice and participated as the first NBA team to host a Play for Justice game at Folsom Prison. To learn more, visit Kings.com.

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Sacramento Kings to Observe Juneteenth as Annual Company Holiday

Nikki Nicholson

Juneteenth (short for June nineteenth) commemorates the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to alert enslaved people they were finally free. The declaration was made more than two-and-a-half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, and its anniversary marks the official end of enslavement in the U.S.

The first Juneteenth celebration took place in 1866, and festivities throughout the U.S. have continued on the date ever since. In 1872, a group of formerly enslaved people put together $800 and purchased 10 acres of land in Houston, Texas, for the city’s annual observation of Juneteenth, and they named the space Emancipation Park, where the holiday continues to be recognized each year.

Today, Juneteenth celebrations continue to be held throughout the country, and often involve events such as picnics, barbecues, church ceremonies, parades, concerts and more. Traditionally, red drinks, such as strawberry soda, and red foods, like red velvet cake, are a must at the cookouts, as the primary color symbolizes resilience.

Juneteenth represents Independence Day for Black people in the U.S., and serves as a reminder for their continued fight for equity and freedom.

“Today's political climate is the result of a concerted effort over many years to teach individuals a revised history: that the system of slavery was related to state’s rights, when in fact it was a treasonous act that this nation must not revisit. One of the ways we can prevent another uprising of a treasonous act [like slavery] is to recognize milestones like Juneteenth,” says NAACP President Derrick Johnson.

“I think the significance and purpose of recognizing Juneteenth is something that all citizens should acknowledge because, if there is not a retelling or remembrance of the true history in this nation, we're doomed to repeat it.”

The Sacramento Kings are committed to the Black community and have announced Juneteenth as an annual paid company holiday. In the spirit of celebrating liberation, while also reflecting on the organization’s commitment to working with the community to continue to address racial inequity through sustained action the content herein will be routinely updated with additional resources.

Black History

Sacramento Kings to Observe Juneteenth as Annual Company Holiday

Juneteenth Celebration Reading and Resources