Dear members of the campus community,

This Monday, we will observe Juneteenth, commemorating the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in the United States were finally freed. It is a day not only to celebrate the incredible achievements of African Americans, but also to reflect on the long road from bondage to freedom—and recommit ourselves to the work of dismantling systems of racism and oppression.

The celebration of Juneteenth reminds us that progress comes slowly. It was nearly a hundred years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence that Abraham Lincoln formally abolished the institution of slavery and a further two years before news of emancipation reached the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas following the Civil War. In 2021, Juneteeth was finally established as a federal holiday, honoring African American resilience and the ongoing struggle for equal rights.

As we commemorate this holiday, I hope you will take time to reflect, to learn, and act. You can learn more about the history of Juneteenth on the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s website. On Sunday, June 18, President Isiaah Crawford will speak at Songs of Black Folk: Music of Resistance and Hope at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle. Here in Tacoma, you can join Metro Parks’ celebration at Stewart Heights Park on June 19 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and you can support local Black businesses by searching the Tacoma Urban League’s website.

Above all, Juneteenth is a reminder that we all must take an active role in eliminating racism and building a more inclusive campus, community, and world. This work is already underway across campus. The Race and Pedagogy Institute, African American Studies, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Student Affairs, Collins Memorial Library, Human Resources, Career and Employment Services, ASUPS, and many other faculty, students, staff, alumni, and community partners all contribute to this important dialogue. Together, we can honor the generations that have gone before us and build upon their legacy to create a world where racism does not exist.

Respectfully,
Lorna Hernandez Jarvis | Vice President of Institutional Equity and Diversity