North Central College Commemorates Juneteenth

Juneteenth Resources BLM Resources DEI Efforts

Juneteenth is a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States

Background Information

On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger led federal troops to Galveston, Texas, to announce that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were now free. The day has long been observed among the country’s Black community, though it is a history that has been marginalized and remains largely unknown to the broader public. The 13th Amendment, ratified December 6, 1865, ended slavery in the remaining slave states and permanently abolished slavery in the United States.

President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act on June 17, 2021, designating Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Biden stated,

“The truth is, it’s simply not enough just to commemorate Juneteenth. After all, the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans didn’t mark the end of America’s work to deliver on the promise of equality; it only marked the beginning.”

The legacy of Juneteenth highlights America’s unfulfilled promise of equality and the importance of our continued work to achieve equity and inclusion.

Juneteenth Resources

North Central College encourages members of the campus community to learn more about Juneteenth and its significance to our nation’s history by visiting the Oesterle Library Black Lives Matter Lib Guide. For further learning, you can read this piece by Henry Louis Gates Jr.

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Events

The Office of Multicultural Affairs encourages community members to spend the day learning more about the effects of slavery and racism in America, and supporting Black-owned businesses. Karl Constant and Dorothy Pleas from the Office of Multicultural Affairs have curated a list of events for learning and celebration at home or in the local area.

Wed., June 15, 2022, 7 - 8 p.m.; Online

National Museum of African American History and Culture
One Year Later: Juneteenth for All Americans

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Fri., June 17, 2022, 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.; Online

United Way of Metro Chicago
Juneteenth Celebration Virtual Event - Sharing Our Stories: A Celebration of Community Voices

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Fri., June 17, 2022, 6 - 9 p.m.; In-person

Bronzeville Art District Art Tour 2022
Bronzeville Art District, Chicago

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Sat., June 18, 2022, 1 p.m.; In-person

Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom
Bronzeville Children's Museum
9301 S Stony Island Ave.
Chicago

Join Bronzeville Children’s Museum for crafts, storytelling, live music, interactive activities, and more, all to celebrate Juneteenth.

Tickets are $5

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Sat., June 18, 2022, 1 - 4 p.m.; In-person

Naperville Neighbors United
Juneteenth Freedom Day
Rotary Hill, Naperville

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Sun., June 19, 2022, 11:00 a.m. - 8 p.m.; In-person

The Juneteenth BBQ & Block Party
The DuSable Museum of African American History
740 East 56th Place
Chicago

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Sun., June 19, 2022, 2 p.m.; In-person

Juneteenth Market
The Promontory
5311 South Lake Park Avenue West
Chicago

Juneteenth Market is a pop-up market celebrating black business in Chicago.

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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at North Central College

You’ll see our beliefs in action through everyday conversations and interactions both in class and around campus. We also offer a range of programs and resources that celebrate diversity, foster understanding and expand cultural experiences; for more information about them, please visit the Office of Multicultural Affairs.