Intercultural Center Monthly Events

Celebrating Juneteenth 

On June 19th, 1865, more than two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, to enforce the new law that enslaved people were now free. The presidential declaration of Juneteenth as a federal holiday was signed into law over a century later, in 2021. Juneteenth also represents a second Independence Day in the United States. 

Commemorating Black/African American freedom, it is recognized for a day, a week, and, in some areas, a month and is marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics, and family gatherings filled with reflection and rejoice.  

Juneteenth’s growing popularity signifies a level of recognition in the U.S. that is long overdue. Across the country, people of all races, nationalities, and religions are acknowledging a period in our history that played a vital role and continues to have implications in our society today.  

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