Dear LaGuardia Community,
On Wednesday, June 19th, we will observe the annual celebration of Juneteenth, the oldest national commemoration of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. It is a day of celebration, education, and contemplation about the Black/African American experience in the US.
Newly freed enslaved people chose Juneteenth – the combination of June and 19 – as the day to honor and celebrate their freedom. It was the date in 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger and Union soldiers landed in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War was over and slavery had been abolished.
On this day, we encourage everyone to pause— to reflect on and learn about the experiences of our Black/African American faculty, staff, and students. Solving social and racial inequities will not happen overnight. We must continue to support the critical work to eliminate anti-Black and racist policies, structures, and rhetoric.
LaGuardia Community College is committed to advancing equity and racial and social justice through education. Together we must uphold LaGuardia’s mission and core values by encouraging open dialogue and the dismantling of systemic policies and actions as we continue to build and sustain an equitable and inclusive campus environment.
Sincerely,
Kenneth Adams
President