Remembering our history this Juneteenth
Washington State University
As we prepare to commemorate Juneteenth, I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge the significance of the holiday’s history and its importance today.
Juneteenth, or Emancipation Day, recognizes the day when the last enslaved African Americans were notified of their freedom back in 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln. Nearly 160 years later, we are still working to unravel elements of systemic racism that persist in the fabric of our society today.
With this history in mind, Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom and the resiliency of the African American community. It’s also a reoccurring call to action, an annual reminder of the progress that has been made and the work yet to come. At WSU, we are committed to supporting our diverse community through the courses we teach, the programs we offer, and the resources we have in place to support our students, faculty, and staff of color.
Tomorrow, I encourage you to take part in any Juneteenth events that might be taking place in your area and consider how you can contribute to the holiday’s legacy and the enduring fight for equality that continues today.
Go beyond:
Juneteenth is a good time to explore regional Black history, says Assistant Professor R. Xach Williams. “Juneteenth should mean not only thinking about the South and racism and violence, but thinking about how our own places were developed. We have a responsibility to acknowledge this history.”