Deputy Secretary Don Graves Honors Juneteenth [Video]

On behalf of the U.S. Department of Commerce, it’s my honor to wish you a happy Juneteenth.

Today, we honor the Black Americans who blazed trails before us, those of us living their legacy today, and the future generations who fill us with hope.

The great presence of Black resilience throughout American history has shaped our nation and is cause for reflection. Today, I feel particularly grateful to serve the American people at the Department of Commerce. My ancestors owned a business on the grounds of the Herbert C. Hoover Building, and I am proud to be a descendant of one of the nation’s first Black patent holders.

Equity is at the core of everything we do here at the Department.

This year, we began implementing our DOC Equity Action Plan, which ensures that our programming and policies reach a diverse audience while promoting equity into every workstream. We are …