On June 26, the DGA African American Steering Committee (AASC) meeting featured a special celebration of the Juneteenth Holiday, in the DGA Headquarters Atrium and patio. Juneteenth (officially Juneteenth National Independence Day) commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States.
During the meeting, AASC Co-Chairs Jeffrey W. Byrd, Princess Monique and Gina Prince-Bythewood introduced DGA Associate National Executive Director Daniel Bush, who spoke about and answered questions regarding terms in the recently ratified Contract with the AMPTP.
Director Eric Dean Seaton, the newly appointed Alternate Co-Chair who also served as a member of the Negotiations Committee, spoke about the importance of the Juneteenth Holiday and the process of getting recognition of the holiday codified into the recently ratified 2023-2026 BA/FLTTA Agreement.
Following the meeting, the attendees also enjoyed a cookout dinner and gathered with friends and colleagues.
Deriving its name from combining June and nineteenth, Juneteenth is celebrated on the anniversary of the order by Major General Gordon Granger proclaiming freedom for enslaved people in Texas on June 19, 1865 (two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued). Originating in Galveston, Juneteenth was observed annually in various parts of the United States, often broadly celebrating African American culture. On June 17, 2021, Juneteenth became the first new Federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was adopted in 1983 when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law.
About the Committee:
The African American Steering Committee (AASC) was born of a desire to address the specific needs of the African-American members of the Directors Guild. One of the primary goals of the Committee is to establish a productive line of communication between African-American members and the creative community. The Committee meets monthly to plan events throughout the year celebrating the achievements of African-Americans, as well as forums with industry executives to proactively address what can be done to hire more African-Americans.
