Penske Media Corporation’s Post

The Black Affinity Group celebrated their annual Juneteenth event, with Guest Speaker Boris Kodjoe and Moderator Clayton Davis, Variety's Senior Award Editor, in Penske Media Corporation's NY and LA offices. Boris Kodjoe is a celebrated actor and former model renowned for his versatile performances in television and film, including roles in Soul Food, Brown Sugar, ABC's Station 19, and the Resident Evil series. Born in Vienna, Austria, to a German mother and a Ghanaian father, Kodjoe has made significant strides in the entertainment industry and is deeply committed to philanthropic efforts such as the Kodjoe Family Foundation, Full Circle Africa Economic Conference, and cenegenics. At the event, Boris discussed how allyship has to do with humanity; equity is not charity, his work in Africa, generational traumas, and having to recover from generational traumas to recreate a new paradigm. Juneteenth is a holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce the end of the Civil War and the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. This was over two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth stands as a symbol of freedom, resilience, and the fight for equality and justice. This year's theme honors the legacy of freedom, migration, and movement of the black community. While the theme varies across cities in the United States, all thrive to ensure a celebration of community, culture, and history. Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this important occasion! #Juneteenth #BlackAffinityGroup #BorisKodjoe #Allyship #Equality #Freedom