Juneteenth, a portmanteau of June and nineteenth, commemorates June 19th, 1865, the day when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned of their freedom, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was announced.
The National Museum of African American History and Culture has curated a special digital collection for Juneteenth for people to learn more about the holiday, the history, and the meaning behind it. This includes a look at the Historical Legacy of Juneteenth and a digital tour of the Our Slavery and Freedom exhibit. Learn more:
In September of 2020, UNH President, Jim Dean, announced that Juneteenth would be an official holiday starting in 2021: "In addition to marking the end of slavery in the United States, Juneteenth is a day of remembrance and an opportunity for all of us to learn about Black culture, history, and on-going challenges. Recognizing this day reflects our deep commitment to and support of our multicultural communities across our campuses.
The recognition of this important day in our collective history is just one small piece of the work we must do as an institution to address racism and promote diversity, equity and inclusion."
Juneteenth is a day of celebration, reflection and ancestral remembrance that officially takes place June 19, each year.
