Juneteenth 2023
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) commemorates Juneteenth 2023 by highlighting the significance of this federal holiday marking the emancipation of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth offers us the opportunity for reflection, introspection, and healing as we continue to advance the work for racial equity and justice. Use this weekend and beyond to support Black-owned businesses and shops in the Greater Worcester community, read the history of this commemorative day and American chattel slavery, and make a commitment to continue advancing racial, social, and economic justice at WPI.
Please note WPI will be closed on Monday, June 19, 2023 in observation of Juneteenth. We greatly appreciate all WPI employees who will be working on this day to support the WPI community's needs.
Juneteenth also known as:
- Juneteenth National Independence Day
- Emancipation Day
- Freedom Day
- Jubilee Day
- Black Independence Day
- Juneteenth Independence Day
Read, Watch, Listen, Learn:
- Explore the Gordon C. Library’s Black Lives Matter: Juneteenth collection online
- Explore the National Museum of African American History and Culture's The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth story online
- Explore Juneteenth.com online
- Explore The Real Opal Lee online
- Read Celebrate Juneteenth and Support the Ongoing Justice Movement online (Learning For Justice)
- Read What Is Juneteenth? by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. online (PBS and The Root)
- Read What to know about Juneteenth and its significance to American history online (The Washington Post)
- Read Biden celebrates Juneteenth, the newest federal holiday, at the White House online (AP News)
- Read Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations about Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum, Ph.D.
- E-book available online via Gordon C. Library
- Read Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds
- Book available at Gordon C. Library
- Read The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones
- Book available at Gordon C. Library
- Watch President Biden Hosts a Juneteenth Concert on the South Lawn online
- Watch Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom live on CNN on Monday, June 19, 2023 at 8:00 PM EDT
- Watch "I Am A Slave" - The Roots Meet Schoolhouse Rock - black-ish 1:08 (ABC)
- Watch "We Built This" - Musical Performance from black-ish Season 4 Premiere 1:50 (ABC)
- Listen and subscribe to 1619 (The New York Times)
- Listen and subscribe to Louder Than A Riot (NPR)
- Listen and subscribe to Code Switch (NPR)
- Listen and subscribe to Into America (MSNBC)
Take Action:
- Attend the 2023 Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony
- Friday, June 16, 2023
- 5:00 PM EDT
- Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District
- 44 Portland St Suite 508, Worcester, MA
- Attend the Juneteenth Celebration at Franklin Park
- Saturday, June 17, 2023
- 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM EDT
- Franklin Park
- 1 Franklin Park Road, Boston, MA
- Attend the 2023 Black Heritage Juneteenth Festival
- Saturday, July 1, 2023
- 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM EDT
- Institute Park
- 126 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01605
- Volunteer for the Black Heritage Juneteenth Festival Committee
- Attend Boston Juneteenth celebrations
- Attend Massachusetts Juneteenth celebrations
- Attend Connecticut Juneteenth celebrations
- Purchase goods and services at Worcester Black-owned businesses and shops:
- Join the NAACP
- Support the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
- Support the National Urban League
- Support the Know Your Rights Camp
- Support the Juneteenth Foundation
- Support the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI)
- Support the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)
- Register to Vote -OR- Check Your Voter Registration
- Everything you need to vote. Vote.org
"Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. On June 17, 2021, it officially became a federal holiday. Juneteenth 2023 will occur on Monday, June 19."
Learn More: What is Juneteenth? (History)
2023 Juneteenth Festival