Emerson College has made Juneteenth a staff holiday, as more schools officially commemorate June 19, the day that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States

“Although Juneteenth is not recognized as a federal holiday, we at Emerson College believe Juneteenth represents a significant moment in the history of the nation and should be an annual point of reflection and re-commitment to racial equity. “said Sylvia Spears, vice president for equity. and social justice, and Shari Stier, senior associate vice president of human resources.

The University of Maryland, which fired its employees on June 16 last year, made it a holiday in its system, canceling all classes on Friday, June 18, with June 17 falling on a Saturday this year.

“We remain committed to finding more ways to celebrate black history and culture,” University of Maryland President Darryll J. Pines said in a campus message earlier this spring. “Let’s take this time to reflect on both our history and recent events, and how we continue to work to eradicate anti-black racism – and racism in all its forms – together. “

In recent months, Boston University, Columbia College in Chicago, Georgetown College in Kentucky, Monroe Community College in New York, and Princeton University have also made Juneteeth an official holiday on campus.

“We celebrate Juneteenth to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States, to examine the roots of racial inequality and injustice, and to end racial inequality and injustice in our community through our commitment common to our MCC values: integrity, excellence, empowerment, inclusion, collaboration and stewardship, ”Monroe Community College said on its website.

Last year, following protests against the death of George Floyd and other police shootings, Antioch College in Ohio, Bowdoin College in Maine, College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, Harvard University, Randolph-Macon College in Virginia and Rollins Colleges in Flordia, among others, officially recognized Juneteenth as a holiday.

“We support our black students, alumni, faculty and staff, as well as black Americans,” Randolph-Macon College president Robert R. Lindgren said on the school’s website. “The College’s observation of Juneteenth will allow our community to think more about not only significant current events, but also the history of the United States, its impact in particular on black communities and, most importantly, the importance of Juneteenth. “