Banner image:听Color guard and drumline in the 1993 Juneteenth Parade in Denver鈥檚 historic Five Points neighborhood.听Credit: Five Points Business Association, from the archives of the Denver Public Library Special Collections.
Commemorated on June 19 each year, celebrates the freedom of enslaved people in the United States, the end of the Civil War, and the self-determination of Black Americans. As a campus community we recognize and reflect on the importance of this day, also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day and the nation鈥檚 second independence day.
Juneteenth marks the day when Union Army General Gordon Granger read aloud the Emancipation Proclamation on June 19, 1865, in the city of Galveston, Texas鈥攕aid to be the last place in the United States to hear of its passage. In fact, it took almost two and a half years for word to reach the farthest corners of the then 34-state union.
African American communities across the country have celebrated Juneteenth for more than 150 years, and many advocated for a national holiday. On June 17, 2021, that vision became reality when President Joseph Biden establishing Juneteenth as the nation鈥檚 12th federal holiday and the first since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.
Of the new law, Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano said, 鈥淲ith the stroke of a pen, President Biden gave Juneteenth its overdue recognition as a consequential moment in American history. The stain of slavery will never be erased from the story of our nation, but making Juneteenth a federal holiday allows all Americans to use June 19 as a day to reflect on the long road to emancipation and the brutal sacrifices it took to get there.
鈥淎s an educator, the holiday provides further inspiration to me and to our campus to commit to anti-racism as a basic part of teaching future generations of the struggles faced by Black Americans and facilitating dialogue on campus and beyond about the hard work that remains to be done,鈥� the chancellor added.
In recognition and celebration of the lived experiences of Black Americans, we encourage continual learning around anti-racism and support for the pursuit of equity and justice for all. Juneteenth provides an opportunity for the CU Boulder community to deepen its understanding of our collective history as a nation.
Supervisors are encouraged to enable faculty and staff to take time to engage and reflect on this part of U.S. history in the coming days and weeks. For some, this may mean participating in a virtual event, reading or podcast, or having a conversation with family and friends.
CU Boulder will work with the state of Colorado and the CU system to ensure that this federal holiday is recognized.
Juneteenth Emancipation Day Celebration, June 19, 1900, Texas.
Why is Juneteenth gaining momentum? A Q&A with Associate Professor Hillary Potter
Hillary Potter, associate professor of ethnic studies and associate dean for inclusive practice in the College of Arts and Sciences, shared her insights and understanding about Juneteenth in a CU Boulder Today Q&A听published last year.
Juneteenth in Colorado
Juneteenth has been celebrated in communities across the country for generations鈥撯�搃ncluding in Colorado. In Denver鈥檚 historic , Denver residents have observed the holiday since at least the 1950s.
This year, the annual returns to Five Points June 18鈥�19.
Additionally, the city of Boulder invites the community to join its first celebration at 10 a.m. on June 19, a virtual event that will include subtitles for the hearing impaired. This year鈥檚 production will premiere on the .听Attendees are asked to 听for access to the free program. For more information, visit the .
Reflecting on Juneteenth with resources from University Libraries
The University Libraries have curated resources to help our community understand the importance, relevance and history of Juneteenth.听Learn more and access the University Libraries Juneteenth resources.
