UAlbany Experts Available to Discuss Juneteenth 2022

ALBANY, N.Y. (June 16, 2022) – Juneteenth, the oldest known celebration of the end of slavery in the United States, will be observed across the country as a federal holiday this Sunday and Monday.

The holiday, which originated in Galveston, Texas, has been celebrated annually on June 19 since 1865, the day that the news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached enslaved people in Galveston. The day is also observed as a celebration of African American culture. 

President Joe Biden signed legislation establishing Juneteenth National Independence Day as a federal holiday last year. It was the first time a new federal holiday was established since Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday was approved in 1983. 

University at Albany experts are available to discuss the history of Juneteenth and its significance today.  

Jennifer Burns, Lecturer, Department of Africana Studies 

Quote:

“The Juneteenth commemoration holiday reminds us to reflect upon the meaning of freedom, and to reckon with the complicated and uncomfortable truths in American history. To truly be agents of change, all of us must continue to learn about and celebrate the Black American experience.”

Janell Hobson, Professor, Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies 

Quote:  

"Juneteenth, which commemorates the last remaining bondspeople in Galveston, Texas to learn about their freedom from the Emancipation Proclamation, has wider implications for all of us who have ever questioned our own freedoms. The holiday is a reminder that freedom is not just a state of rule but a state of mind. We must never take our freedoms for granted when remembering all those who came before us who forced this nation to bear out the true meaning of a democracy freed from slavery." 

Hayward Derrick Horton, Professor, Department of Sociology and School of Public Health 

Quote: 

"We are living in unprecedented times. Anti-Blackness, i.e. extreme racism directed specifically at Black people, is at its highest levels since the Civil Rights Era of the 1950s and 1960s. Yet today's anti-Blackness is more subtle and pervasive. 

One obvious defense against this extreme form of racism is the knowledge of Black history. Indeed, without the contributions and sacrifices of Black people in America, the United States as we know it would not exist. Thus, the history of Black America should be known to all because it is the history of America.

Juneteenth is an important part of America's history. It is hoped that Juneteenth can serve as a starting point for broader discussions on Black history in general and efforts to practice anti-racism in particular. In short, Juneteenth should be more than a simple celebration of the past. Instead, it should be a call to action for a brighter future."

About the University at Albany:  

A comprehensive public research university, the University at Albany-SUNY offers more than 120 undergraduate majors and minors and 125 master's, doctoral and graduate certificate programs. UAlbany is a leader among all New York State colleges and universities in such diverse fields as atmospheric and environmental sciences, business, education, public health, health sciences, criminal justice, emergency preparedness, engineering and applied sciences, informatics, public administration, social welfare and sociology, taught by an extensive roster of faculty experts. It also offers expanded academic and research opportunities for students through an affiliation with Albany Law School. With a curriculum enhanced by 600 study-abroad opportunities, UAlbany launches great careers.  

###