Juneteenth (a combination of June and nineteenth) commemorates Union troops arriving in Galveston, Tex., on June 19, 1865, to inform the region’s enslaved Blacks that the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed—more than two years earlier.
"The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free,” General Gordon Granger announced. “This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor.”
In subsequent years, the date became an opportunity to emphasize the importance of civic and economic empowerment for Black Americans as well as celebrate freedom and equality with barbecues, picnics, cultural events, and other festivities.
The DeBartolo Performing Arts Center (DPAC) is hosting two events open to the campus community and the public in honor of the holiday:
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June 13: Juneteenth Resource Fair and Celebration, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., DeBartolo Performing Arts Center (DPAC), North Entrance. In partnership with the Institute for Social Concerns and the Office of Institutional Transformation, DPAC invites campus and the community to its third Juneteenth commemoration. The event will feature approximately 50 local businesses and organizations, food trucks, and music.
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June 21: UZIMA! Drum and Dance present JUBILEE: Songs and Spirituals, 7 p.m., DPAC, Leighton Concert Hall. Deeply rooted in spiritual symbolism, a jubilee represents liberation, restoration, and renewal—a transformative moment marked by forgiveness, reconciliation, and a return to harmony among people, creation, and the divine. Inspired by these profound themes, UZIMA! Drum and Dance's Jubilee: Songs and Spirituals offers a vibrant celebration of resilience and hope through a compelling blend of music, dance, and spoken word. This powerful and immersive performance brings to life the rich tapestry of the African diaspora.
Originally published by at weareall.nd.edu on June 04, 2025.