Giselle Rhoden, Communication and Spanish Major
President, Black Student Union
On June 19, 1865, slavery in the United States came to an end when federal troops arrived in Texas to free thousands of African Americans from a lifetime of involuntary servitude. The United States now commemorates this monumental day as Juneteenth, the
longest-standing holiday for African Americans across the country.
Juneteenth often goes by Freedom Day or Liberation Day. Traditionally, United States citizens celebrate Independence Day on July 4, the day that the United States announced its independence from Great Britain. Although this liberation also deserves to
be celebrated, it does not mark liberation for all. I consider June 19 to be Black Independence Day. Juneteenth marks a long-awaited liberation for my ancestors—a liberation that allowed them to prosper and exemplify the Black excellence that
I have learned to honor and appreciate.
This day, to me, marks the beginning of true Black excellence. African Americans could begin to create a culture and a lifestyle all their own in a world that was unfamiliar to them for centuries. The liberation of my Black ancestors deserves to be commemorated.
I believe it is Bellarmine University’s duty and obligation to recognize this day. Bellarmine stresses the importance of diversity, inclusivity, and equity, and Juneteenth is a part of those efforts. June 19 is a day the university should stand
in solidarity with its Black students, faculty, and staff, as Bellarmine has many times before. It is a day in which all of us across campus can celebrate the beginning of Black liberation and the start of a rich Black culture in America. Although
we are still fighting for Black liberation, we would never be where we are today culturally and historically if not for Juneteenth.