John,
Black history is American History. Juneteenth, officially Juneteenth National Independence Day, commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States. The holiday is recognized as the “longest-running African American Holiday” and is sometimes referred to as America’s second Independence Day.
In 2020, while serving as a Wake County Commissioner, I led the effort to declare Juneteenth as a holiday for county employees, making Wake County the first county in North Carolina to do so. As State Auditor, I remain committed to leading with integrity and focusing on a more equitable and inclusive society for all of us.
The gravity of being the first Black woman on the North Carolina Council of State, in a state where my ancestors were slaves, is a humbling honor. I stand on the shoulders of leaders who have come before me such as former State Auditor Ralph Campbell, Jr., who made history in 1992 as the first African American elected to a statewide constitutional office in North Carolina.
