Juneteenth: Our Country’s Second Independence Day

Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. He informed the enslaved African Americans of their freedom and that the Civil War had ended. This momentous occasion has been celebrated as Juneteenth — a combination of June and 19 — for over 150 years in the Black American community.

Now a national holiday, people are asking: what does all of this mean? How will we celebrate Juneteenth? The answers to these questions are simple. We begin with education. It is an opportunity to educate ourselves and the next generation about the history of slavery and freedom in the United States. It is a time to explore an institution that shaped our economic, political, and social systems for hundreds of years. More important, as we embrace this day of recognition so important to the Black community, we owe it to all of us to start a national conversation about history. Our history.  But where do we start?

At Bay Path, under the leadership of Elizabeth Cardona, executive director of Multicultural Affairs, our Juneteenth recognition took the form of a grassroots initiative literally taking it to the classroom.  Using Juneteenth for Mazie for grades K-2, and The Juneteenth Story for grades 3-5, 43 Bay Path faculty, staff, alumni, and friends read in 57 classrooms at 18 schools introducing a new generation of Americans to the history of Juneteenth.  These comments speak to the success and enthusiastic response to the project:

“I enjoy reading at local schools and find it thrilling to hear how incredibly smart these young students are. The students are excited to have a visitor in the classroom and give their full attention to the reader. They asked thoughtful questions.  And the innocence of their questions, responses, and facial expressions stayed with me long after the ‘read alouds’ were over. This was truly a wonderful experience and so rewarding.”

“It was amazing. I now have a deeper connection with the school where I read, and networked for potential volunteer and job opportunities. This was so necessary because a lot of children didn't know about Juneteenth.  I was happy I was able to educate and be part of an experience they'll remember for years to come!”

Juneteenth did not stop in the classrooms.  On June 15th, the Bay Path community gathered to have their own lunch and learn with events scheduled throughout the day, including an inspiring reflection on Juneteenth from Springfield City Councilor Justin Hurst.

Elizabeth Cardona had this to say about this hugely popular initiative:  “What I most appreciated about the Juneteenth celebrations was our ability to achieve the goals we had imagined for this program and ourselves. We wanted to bring awareness into the history and context around the Juneteenth holiday, engage with schools as active partners in the community, and lastly through the various self-care activities, allow ourselves the space to reflect, connect with each other, and recharge. We did that and I am filled with deep gratitude for the team’s support, alumni and friends who volunteered their time, and the contributions from so many areas across campus who made this program possible.”

Without a doubt, the success of the Juneteenth program ensures it will be back next year, and from the responses from the Bay Path community, even more volunteers will find their way into the classrooms.