Event Details
Juneteenth Observance
Macalester President Suzanne Rivera shared a message about Juneteenth with students, faculty, and staff. Friday, June 19th, is Juneteenth, a state holiday in Minnesota (and in 47 other states) that commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. Some in our community have observed the Juneteenth holiday for many years; some are just beginning to understand its significance. To learn more about the origins of Juneteenth, or “Freedom Day,” and the traditions that surround its observance, I recommend this video, produced by the Minnesota Historical Society: “Juneteenth: Freedom at Last.” Juneteenth is a solemn opportunity to reflect upon the legacy of slavery and on anti-Black racism in our country. It also is a day of action. We hope all the members of the Macalester community will take the occasion this Friday to observe Juneteenth in ways that recognize their own relationships to these important issues. I know Juneteenth has not previously been recognized in an official way at Macalester. This is a first step. Going forward, we hope to build specific programming around this holiday. For those who may be looking for more information about Juneteenth to educate themselves, here are some links: This is Why Juneteenth is Important for America by The Root What is Juneteenth by HuffPost The history behind Juneteenth and why it resonates today by Washington Post in 2019
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