Celebrating the importance of Juneteenth

Juneteenth, which is celebrated on June 19, marks the day in 1865 that enslaved Africans in Texas learned about President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. The day commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States on Dec. 6 of that year with the ratification of the 13th Amendment.

Today, Juneteenth celebrates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. The length of commemoration ranges from a single day to the entire month of June, and is marked with celebrations, remembrances and community gatherings.

This year, there are several ways that you can celebrate Juneteenth at SLAC and Stanford.

DEI Office and CORE Science Institute
On June 16, join the DEI Office and CORE Science Institute (CSI) for a Juneteenth celebration with catering provided by Back A Yard Caribbean Grill. The event will acknowledge student participation in CSI and will be an opportunity to engage with the next generation of scientists, engineers and STEM professionals.

Stanford Juneteenth events
The university is hosting a variety of events throughout June, including:

• A conversation about higher education and the pathway to a sustainable future, June 8
• A live cooking session with chef Terry Braggs, June 19
• An interactive art collaborative, June 20
• A food and community fish fry at Stanford Redwood City, June 20-22
• A performance by the Malonga Artist Collective, June 20
• An exhibit at the Domini Hoskins Black History Museum and Learning Center, June 20-21
• …and much more.

Learn more about the history of Juneteenth in this article from the CORE Employee Resource Group.