June 14, 2022
By Office of Inclusive Excellence
Susquehanna University has added Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration marking the end of slavery, to our list of recognized holidays. In observance, the university will be closed on Monday, June 20.
Signed into federal law in 2021, Juneteenth (combining the words “June” and “nineteenth”) marks the date Union General Gordon Granger posted general orders in the city of Galveston (June 19, 1865) proclaiming all slaves were now free in the state of Texas. The timing of this announcement came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation (January 1, 1863).
While Juneteenth celebrates African American freedom, achievement and joy, the day is also an opportunity for deep reflection and an honest acknowledgement of the United States’ history of racism and violence. We invite you to take time to rejoice, to learn and to join efforts to support the continued work of anti-racism at SU and in our community.
Here are some resources for you: