Liberation, Freedom, and Joy: Juneteenth Celebrations Planned at Grinnell

On June 19, 1865, General Gordon Granger and 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that all enslaved Texans — a quarter of million people — were to be freed by executive order of the president of the United States. There must have been joy and celebration in the streets as the enslaved people learned that they were now freed, two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.

Today, Juneteenth (as the day has come to be known) is a national holiday that we celebrate to honor the resilience, determination, and triumphs of Black Americans and to preserve this part of American history.

Grinnell College will mark the holiday with events on Tuesday, June 18:

• an interactive virtual workshop (RSVP required)
• a flag-raising ceremony and brief program
• a mobile museum with a timeline of historical Juneteenth and Grinnell College facts
• a campus lunch (RSVP required, registration closed)

‘What’s the Deal with Juneteenth?’

Veronique Porter ’08 will present an interactive virtual workshop at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 18, open to all Grinnellians. The workshop is titled “What’s the Deal with Juneteenth Anyways?” and will educate and engage participants in a discussion on how to take in history around Juneteenth and apply it to today, particularly regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

Workshop topics will include:

• History of Juneteenth
• Juneteenth’s relevance to U.S. culture today
• A discussion of Juneteenth and how it can help create more harmoniously diverse, inclusive, and equitable environments and communities
• Q and A/Discussion

Please register if you would like to attend the workshop at “What’s the Deal With Juneteenth Anyways?” WebEx. Support for this event comes from the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, the Office of the Dean, the Department of History, and the Center for the Humanities.

Celebrate on Campus

Everyone is invited to Central Campus for the flag-raising ceremony at 11:30 a.m. near the Commencement Stage.

After a brief program, attendees will proceed through the south hallway of the HSSC, where they can experience a mobile museum displaying a timeline of historical Juneteenth and Grinnell College facts.

Lunch will follow in the HSSC Multipurpose Room for students, faculty, and staff who registered in advance. Grinnellians are encouraged to enjoy fellowship in the HSSC Atrium and Kington Plaza.

It will be a great day to center and celebrate liberation, freedom, and joy!

Questions about the College’s Juneteenth celebration can be directed to Sarah Gearhart Anderson, 641-269-3407.