In line with its long-standing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, Wayne State University will host its annual Juneteenth celebration, a series of events commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and fostering a deeper understanding of the ongoing quest for equality and justice.
This year’s celebration will take place Monday, June 17, through Wednesday, June 19. The Juneteenth series will feature an art exhibition, panel discussions, and a keynote address by the Rev. Dr. Mayowa Lisa Reynolds, principal at the Detroit School of Arts and assistant pastor at Fellowship Chapel.
“The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is excited to mark another Juneteenth at Wayne State with educational and celebratory events around the day’s significance,” said Alex Boesch, director of educational and strategic initiatives. “These events will both explore the enduring impacts of racism on the African American community as it is widely documented in systems such as housing, education, employment, and health care, and, of course, we will celebrate Juneteenth as a day of freedom by sharing food, music and games as a community.”
Also known as Freedom Day, Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation and ensure that all enslaved people were freed. Wayne State’s event will honor this pivotal moment in American history with a series of educational, cultural and community activities.
Wayne State’s Juneteenth opening ceremony will be held June 18, 2024, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Bernath Auditorium of the David Adamany Undergraduate Library, followed by the Juneteenth festival. Additional events include a quilting exhibition June 17 and a panel discussion, “The Importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Now and in the Future,” sponsored by the Organization of Black Alumni, June 18.
The university will be closed June 19 in observance of the holiday but will reopen the following day.
To learn more about WSU’s 2024 Juneteenth celebration, please visit events.wayne.edu/Juneteenth.
For information about the history of Juneteenth, go to diversity.wayne.edu/education-training/juneteenth/resources.
Wayne State University Juneteenth events:
June 17, 2024
June 18, 2024