The University of Hartford Celebrates Juneteenth

The University of Hartford, along with other institutions of higher education and people across the country, are commemorating Juneteenth. This year, Monday, June 19, will be a University holiday. The day commemorates the last day enslaved people were emancipated in the United States on June 19, 1865. Enslaved people in Texas learned that the Civil War and their enslavement came to an end, more than two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Learn more about Juneteenth.  

Institutionally, we join in acknowledging the significance of this historic day. As shared by UHart Associate Professor of Political Science Bilal Sekou, “The celebration of Juneteenth is a reminder that any form of oppression is unacceptable and that freedom, equality and being treated with dignity are human rights everyone is entitled to at birth."

UHart's Office of Diversity, Equity, and Community Engagement encourages members of our campus community to engage in further education and reflect on the importance of this day in order to honor the legacy of those who fought for freedom and continue working toward creating a more equitable community and future for all.

UHart Events:

Educate and Celebrate: Juneteenth Edition. Learn, celebrate, and embrace the freedom and community of Juneteenth with UHart on Thursday, June 15, 6 – 9 p.m., at The REC, 160 Trumbull St., Hartford. Register by June 12. Leonard Epps '90 will kick off our event with a call to our ancestors through the soulful beat of African drumming. Following the performance we'll discuss the influence of community on the traditions celebrated during Juneteenth. Food and drinks (beer and wine) will be served. UHart dads will also receive a special gift to mark the start of Father's Day weekend and recognize the importance of fatherhood! Contact Julissa with any questions at Jpabon@hartford.edu.Brought to you by Alumni Affairs.

Join the Office of Student Engagement and Inclusion (OSEI) for The Cookout—A Juneteenth Celebration on Friday, June 16, from noon – 2 p.m., on the GSU Patio and Hawk Lounge. Enjoy food and music, and learn the American history of June 19th, 1865, and why we celebrate!

Community Events:

Online

ADL Connecticut is holding an event called Paying Tribute to the Journey: Juneteenth with Dr. Peniel E. Joseph on June 15, at 2 p.m. EST. Learn about the history of Juneteenth and how an old fight for freedom is connected to the modern struggle for rights and dignity today. Join ADL and award-winning scholar and author of The Third Reconstruction, Peniel E. Joseph – winner of the 2023 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Book Award.

Hartford

The Amistad Center’s 32nd annual Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at the Wadsworth Museum in Hartford. This event is Greater Hartford’s premier and longest-running Juneteenth event commemorating emancipation, history, and culture.

The KNOX Foundation welcomes all school-aged Hartford youth to join us for an afternoon of food and fun to celebrate African American freedom and achievement! Community members and KNOX Program Partners are invited to share activities and opportunities for children of all ages.

More Hartford-area events

West Hartford

West Hartford's Juneteenth celebration returns for its third festival this year, with events kicking off on June 17, at 11 a.m., in Blue Back Square. A day filled with great entertainment, family activities, immersive art experiences, powerful speakers, and local vendors.

Bloomfield and Windsor 

This weekend, Bloomfield and Windsor will host a Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom. The weekend of events will include a parade on Saturday, June 18, at 11 a.m., a community cookout on Sunday, June 19, at 6 p.m., along with numerous other activities.

Educational Resources:

Below is a list of resources that will provide an expanded understanding of the history of Juneteenth and manifestations of racism. This list is a small sample of the abundance of resources available online.

• 6 ways to be antiracist, because being 'not racist' isn't enough – Mashable

• The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture website offers blog posts on the legacy and celebration of Juneteenth.

• If you’re more of an auditory learner, we recommend listening to our podcast episode with Pulitzer Prize winner and professor Gordon-Reed as she discusses Juneteenth’s history and how we can keep it alive all year round. Her book, On Juneteenth, is a short, beautiful, insightful read.

• Vox’s podcast episode with Ibram X. Kendi, author, anti-racist activist, and historian of race and discriminatory policy in America, gives powerful insight on racism, Juneteenth, and how we can work to enact change.

Read books written by Black poets and authors:

• Juneteenth is a celebration of liberation, joy, and of course, storytelling. Read works by Black authors and poets, such as Amanda Gorman.

• To understand Juneteenth, and the events that followed, we recommend reading “Black Reconstruction” by W. E. B. Du Bois, gives a sharp account of the history of the Civil War and Reconstruction.

• The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture is one of many organizations sharing Juneteenth reading lists that you can dive into.