The College of Humanities Diversity & Inclusion Committee joins with organizations across campus for a meaningful Juneteenth celebration.
Many people mistakenly believe that slavery in the US ended with the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863; however, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865, that Union troops freed the last enslaved Texans, marking the true conclusion of slavery in the country. In 2021, the US government commemorated the 155th year since the end of slavery in Texas by declaring Juneteenth, or Emancipation Day, an official US holiday. Juneteenth is a day for all Americans to celebrate freedom and honor those enslaved individuals, but it can be especially significant for African Americans who reflect on their ancestor’s trials.
Representatives of the College of Humanities Diversity & Inclusion Committee recently collaborated with other BYU colleges and clubs to organize an event honoring and celebrating Black history and culture in the US. Organizers adopted the theme “Acknowledge,” recognizing the need to acknowledge the atrocities of the past to ensure a culture of respect and kindness in the present and future.
The most thought-provoking part of the event was a posterboard gallery with photos and information about Black oppression throughout history. Natercia Ribeiro (French Teaching ’25), a student fellow at the Diversity & Inclusion Committee for the College of Humanities, said, “A lot of times we come to these events and we have a good time, but we don’t really take the time to understand what we’re trying to promote or change.”
There are many steps we can take to remember Juneteenth and its significance, but Ribeiro hopes that its significance becomes ingrained in American culture. “During the Fourth of July, we celebrate freedom, and I feel like Juneteenth should be equally celebrated as we celebrate freedom amongst ourselves as brothers and sisters. . . . I would love to see Juneteenth have the same hype that we give to the Fourth of July or Thanksgiving.”
Other highlights of the event included delicious catered Afro-Carribean food, an inspirational gospel choir, and a message from Sorenson Center director Anthony Bates. He spoke about the importance of acknowledging that these tragic events happened and proposed that we can create change through our unique lens as disciples of Jesus Christ. Bates said, “Christ showed us that there are some aspects of ethnicity, race, and socio-economic status that we have to figure out how to work through, and that, because we let those things impact our treatment of each other, they do matter and they do impact other people.”
To learn more about the history of Juneteenth, visit the Smithsonian website.