With the upcoming Juneteenth commemorations, Campus Compact would like to take this opportunity to recognize the importance of this date, not only as the date when enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom in 1865—nearly two and a half years after Emancipation—but as a move toward acknowledging and appreciating the contributions of the African American community to our great American history and culture. On this day of celebration, let us focus on our desire for a country that embodies the values of human dignity, equity, and full participation for all. 

Let us celebrate what freedom is and can be and let us remember that we have the power to fight against injustice. Celebration reminds us of our victories, our joy, and our humanity. They mark beginnings and ends. As we mark the oldest national commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States let us call forward the ancestors, organizers, and community efforts that have and continue to guide towards the path of liberation, freedom, and justice.

As Campus Compact joins others in making this an organizational holiday, we want to recommit ourselves to the principles and guiding values of equity, dignity, and full participation as essential elements of a thriving democracy that serves all. We will continue to build opportunities for unheard and unseen voices in our field to be acknowledged, recognized, and highlighted for their contributions. Let us continue to celebrate the spirit and reality of freedom. Happy Juneteenth!