Celebrating Juneteenth

Tomorrow is Friday, June 19^th, also a day that is known as Juneteenth. It is a day that marks the commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States and is when the Emancipation Proclamation—the federal order ending slavery in the United States—was read to enslaved African Americans in Texas after the conclusion of the Civil War, which ended more than two months earlier in April 1865.

We stand with the African American community in recognizing Juneteenth! More than ever, we must reflect on how slavery and segregation have shaped conditions in modern America. To unify and grow, we must be respectful of one another, while engaging in challenging dialogue about tensions between African Americans and law enforcement, as well as other persistent inequalities in our society. Honest conversation can help with establishing new policies that enhance liberty and opportunities for all people and with changing all that is broken.

To celebrate Juneteenth and learn more about its cultural significance and its connection to systemic racism and today's Black Lives Matter protests, we encourage you to participate in these events:

Pamela Safisha Hill, adjunct professor of social work and faculty affiliate with the Center for African American Studies, will lead a discussion, “The History of Juneteenth, Race & Current Events,” on Facebook Live today at 2 p.m. (www.Facebook.com/UTASocialWork). Time permitting, there will be a question-and-answer session.
Multicultural Affairs will be hosting “Juneteenth—A Celebration of Freedom” on Teams Live at 6 p.m. today. Join a discussion about the meaning of Juneteenth and celebrate it by painting the Juneteenth flag. Painting supplies can be picked up in the University Center (Suite B120) between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Email multicultural_affairs@uta.edu for the Teams Live link.