The University community has organized various programs to celebrate Juneteenth next week.
Campus organizations have planned community-focused events to commemorate Juneteenth — the oldest nationally recognized celebration marking the abolition of slavery in the United States — through the third week of June. Groups hosting events for Juneteenth include the African American Resource Center, Penn Museum, and Penn Libraries.
The African American Resource Center is partnering with Penn Women’s Center to host a Freedom Day event from 1-3 p.m. on June 18 at 3643 Locust Walk. Attendees can listen to music and share stories while enjoying treats in the PWC backyard.
The Penn Museum will host its second annual Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom on June 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Forum Philly will present their Juneteenth Honors Program in Harrison Auditorium. The presentation will celebrate all those involved in creating educational projects through the 2025 Juneteenth Schools Initiative — which brings Juneteenth-focused learning into schools across Philadelphia and the wider region.
Penn Museum will host several celebratory activities from noon to 6 p.m., including spirited storytelling, African drumming, a marketplace, and food trucks. Those interested in attending must register in advance to receive their free ticket.
Penn Libraries will honor Edna Lewis — a chef and teacher who shared the food culture of the African American community of rural Virginia — in their June 13 event. The Van Pelt-Dietrich Library will screen “Finding Edna Lewis” from 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in the Kislak Center Class of 1978 Orrery Pavilion. The screening will be followed by a discussion with the film’s producer, Debra Freeman, and documentary host, Valerie Erwin. The event is free for the Penn community and requires an RSVP.
Although the Emancipation Proclamation took effect on January 1, 1863, its enforcement depended on the presence of Union troops advancing through the South. It was only on June 19, 1865, that Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Texas and issued orders to enforce emancipation there. In the years that followed, June 19 became a day of annual celebration commemorating the end of slavery.
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On June 17, 2021, the U.S. Congress passed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, and it was signed into law by former Benjamin Franklin Presidential Professor of Practice and President Joe Biden.
