This weekend, we celebrate Juneteenth, a national holiday in celebration of June 19, 1865, when the last enslaved Black people were freed in the United States. We commemorate this important historical marker because of its importance for understanding the full narrative of our country.
As changemaker educators, we care about truth, integrity, and dignity in educating our students and ourselves about the full, contextualized story of the evolution of our country. This includes grappling honestly with our legacy of slavery; with how and why human rights like freedom and justice have been delayed and restricted for some people; with the continuing realities of barriers to progress for Black people; and with the strength, tenacity, and pride of Black people, community, and culture in the unwavering pursuit of human rights. It is only through a deeper understanding of our nation’s trials that we will further live up to its ideals.
Nazareth College stands for truth in education about the realities of our history and our present time. We honor the millions of enslaved people and their descendants and the trauma they have endured. We acknowledge the impact that slavery and racism has had — and continues to have — in our country. We join in celebration of Juneteenth “Freedom Day,” from a place of truth, and with renewed commitment to the everyday work of freedom, equity, true belonging, and mattering for all.
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