The team gave its employees Juneteenth off as a holiday in remembrance of the order given by Union General Gordon Granger on that date in 1865 announcing slaves were now free in the state of Texas.
A. Sherrod Blakely, Chair of the National Association of Black Journalists’ Sports Task Force, released a statement on the Cowboys’ decision but called for more on behalf of both the Cowboys and the NFL as a whole:
“It is indeed a step in the right direction that the Dallas Cowboys are now offering Juneteenth as a paid day for its employees, a holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved Black people in the United States which was first celebrated in the state of Texas and has been a legal holiday in the state since 1980.
But recognizing Juneteenth, while important, should only be part of a more comprehensive strategy on the part of the NFL when it comes to creating a more inclusive work environment as it relates to the overwhelming majority of the league’s labor force – Black men.
Despite the clear majority of players in the NFL being Black, it is rare to see them in decision-making positions such as a head coach, General Manager or team owner.
Despite the Cowboys’ honoring Juneteenth, owner Jerry Jones has yet to make a statement regarding the George Floyd murder and the resulting global protests and current social justice movement.
