Excerpt from a message to the College of Medicine by Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion Stephanie White, MD, MS, FAAP
On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing enslaved peoples within the Confederate States. Despite this decree, slaves in Galveston, Texas, would not hear news of their freedom for another two and a half years on June 19, 1865.
It's easy to focus on the tragedy of continued servitude for those freed peoples and the feelings of rage or profound sadness it may bring up. June 19, however, is a recognition of African-Americans’ continued self-determination in spite of the violence we’ve faced. Juneteenth has been many things: a party, a political information and engagement campaign, voter registration drives, barbecues, and, most importantly, a day of rest. Reflective of the people it celebrates, Juneteenth is all of these and then some.
In the year since Juneteenth was first recognized as a national holiday, we’ve seen triumph, heartbreak, and the promise of the kind of nation we have the potential to be. Within that same year, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has remained committed to advancing the values of diversity and equity across the College of Medicine. With our collective work and futures in mind, ODEI encourages faculty, staff, and learners across the college to earnestly engage with how we actualize the college’s values of diversity and respect in our day-to-day lives.
If you choose this day to celebrate, there are ways to intentionally do this with opportunities like SoulFeast Week that celebrate Black culinary and agriculture communities in central Kentucky or other events happening across Lexington, Northern Kentucky, and Bowling Green.
If you’re looking for other ways to recognize Juneteenth, you can explore these suggestions.