Dear Colleagues,
This Friday, June 18, CCA will observe Juneteenth, a day that honors African American freedom and achievement while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures. Traditionally celebrated each June 19, Juneteenth commemorates the arrival of federal troops in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, to enforce the end of slavery in that state—two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation had outlawed it.
CCA instituted Juneteenth as a paid holiday and annual day of service, reflection, and celebration in 2020. The college’s approach to acknowledging Juneteenth was developed in consultation with the Staff of Color Alliance (SOCA), Faculty of Color Alliance (FOCA), and Staff Advisory Committee (SAC). We recognize that many members of our community have long-established traditions for celebrating the day, while others may be learning of its significance more recently. In this spirit, I encourage each member of our community to spend the day in whatever way is meaningful to you—celebrating with friends and family, learning more about the history surrounding the day, or finding opportunities to be of service. My own plans include spending time exploring the Equal Justice Initiative’s resources and participating throughout the week in some of the Juneteenth programming of the New York Public Library’s renowned Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
As the members of SOCA, FOCA, and SAC convey so well in their joint statement introducing a collection of Juneteenth resources for our community, “Recognizing Juneteenth does not ameliorate the ongoing institutional barriers to racial equality in America, but it can be an acknowledgement of Black people’s contribution to American history and how much of that contribution has come with tremendous suffering.” I encourage you to read their full statement on Portal, and to explore the resources they have gathered there as we continue to work together to promote justice and equity in our community.
Respectfully,
Steve