Celebrating Juneteenth: Advancing Equity, Advancing Health

Anthem associate Shaquana Smiley recently said, “As one of the Enterprise Health Chairs for Inclusion and Diversity, I understand that equity is not just a concept. Equity is the mission that demonstrates our commitment to reducing disparities and working to ensure every human, regardless of region, race, gender, sexual orientation or disability, can live an authentic, healthy life. Equity is the inclusive framework on which we build health.” I wholeheartedly agree.

The past year shined a spotlight on recurring episodes of racism and social inequity.  As we approach the 156th anniversary of Juneteenth, I am taking time to reflect on our nation’s history and the work we must all do to enact effective, sustainable change.

Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when a group of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned that they were free from the institution of slavery—two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Today, Juneteenth is celebrated as a day of liberation, pride, and progress.

While it wasn’t the first moment of emancipation—and certainly did not mark the end of injustice— Juneteenth has become a moment of celebration of Black joy and culture. As Smiley puts it, “As a Black mother, wife daughter, writer, and leader, when I celebrate Juneteenth, I am celebrating our humanity and history of resilience.”

Juneteenth also offers the opportunity to reflect on the education and action still needed to advance equity. Data and research are clear: too many in our country do not have access to essentials such as quality healthcare, nutritious food, and safe, affordable housing. In particular, Black individuals face significant health challenges such as higher rates of food insecurity, greater risk of maternal mortality, and worse outcomes for a number of chronic health conditions.

Propelled by our mission to improve lives and communities, and our values of diversity, community and leadership, we are committed to understanding and addressing the core drivers of health. This work includes ensuring access to care and services with measurable outcomes and addressing the inequities that disproportionately and negatively affect health within underrepresented and historically marginalized communities.

We believe companies have a responsibility to make a positive impact on the individual lives they touch and the broader communities they operate in. As Anthem has the privilege of touching the lives of more than one in eight Americans, we have both the opportunity and a responsibility to create a better healthcare future. However, we can only accomplish this with a commitment to acknowledge, examine, and influence the factors that determine our health and well-being.

As I join Anthem associates in celebration of Juneteenth, I do so with the understanding that it is part of my own continuing journey of listening and learning, particularly to the experiences of Black Americans and Black Anthem associates. I also recognize that while the recognition of Juneteenth is important, it is just one piece of a much larger collective effort that is needed to create a more equitable system.

Anthem has enhanced its own commitment to learning more and doing more to address racial inequities and social injustice. We are deepening our relationships with each other and within our communities through listening, leading and allyship to amplify the voices and different perspectives that allow our communities to thrive. Through this journey, we are laser focused on using our scale, scope and the commitment of each of our associates to improve the health of individuals, families and communities. 

We invite everyone—our associates, industry partners, employers, and others—to celebrate our nation’s progress and consider what more we can do to make a better, healthier, more equitable future our reality. We can accept nothing short of it.