June 18, 2021
Dear Colleagues:
June 19, 2021, marks the 156th anniversary of Juneteenth, an African American
celebration that commemorates the news of emancipation finally reaching those
people enslaved in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865—almost two and a half years
after the Emancipation Proclamation. On this day, 250,000 enslaved people learned
of their freedom.
While Juneteenth stands as a celebration of freedom, it is also a time that
honors the strength, spirit, and lives of those men, women, and children who
lived under the system of slavery in the United States. Despite delayed freedom,
they laid firm claim to their rights of citizenship by creating and elevating a
collective memory that affirmed the varied dimensions of their experiences and
dreams, and established a legacy that continues to invigorate those who continue
to fight for liberation and equality in the 21st century.
Recent events have magnified how much racial inequality persists. We see it
in the way the COVID‑19 pandemic has disproportionately affected the country’s
Black population. We see it in the way the criminal justice system continues to
incarcerate Black men and women at disproportionate rates. And after the
monumental demonstrations for racial justice and equality that occurred last
summer, and that continue to surge both here and abroad, we know that the work
of freedom for all remains incomplete. Juneteenth presents us all with an
opportunity to learn from history as we move forward to build the future. As
Cougs, we must continue to educate ourselves, listen with humility, amplify
the voices of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) members of
our campus community, and continuously work toward being better allies.
Juneteenth officially became a federal holiday yesterday, and will become
a recognized holiday for the state of Washington in 2022—let it be a day that
we all reaffirm our commitment to foster a deeper understanding of the lived
experiences of our Black faculty, staff, and students. As members of the Coug
family, and as members of the nation and the globe, we honor the anniversary
of Juneteenth, and we let it serve as a reminder of the responsibilities we
have to one another and the promises of freedom for which we continue to
strive.
Sincerely,
Kirk Schulz
President
Elizabeth Chilton
Provost and Executive Vice President
