SCU Library Celebrates Juneteenth

This article explores the history of Juneteenth—the commemoration of the emancipation of enslaved people in Texas—in San Francisco, California. In 1945, Wesley Johnson, a Texan migrant, introduced Juneteenth to San Francisco's Black community. The celebration sustained itself over seventy years, making it the longest continuous urban celebration of Juneteenth. Juneteenth remained relevant in San Francisco because it became intertwined with the history of African Americans in the Western Addition neighborhood. Most significantly, the holiday was a key expression of resilience as the city demolished the neighborhood in the 1960s, expelling much of the Black community. Surprisingly, later in the 1980s, the holiday became a key point of contact between the city and the Black community. This unlikely holiday continues in San Francisco to the present day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are 52 Black scientists. Here, we establish the context of Juneteenth in STEMM and discuss the barriers Black scientists face, the struggles they endure, and the lack of recognition they receive. We review racism's history in science and provide institutional-level solutions to reduce the burdens on Black scientists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the Civil War, African Americans in Texas celebrated their emancipation on 19 June 1865 with an annual holiday known as "Juneteenth." The celebration migrated to other areas of the country, and since 2002 there has been a concerted effort to establish it as a national holiday. Using the recent revival and diffusion of Juneteenth as its focal point, the article examines local press coverage of the celebration in four states: California, Louisiana, New York, and Illinois. The coverage illustrates how journalists invoke history to explain current events and also highlights the changing, fluid nature of public memory. In contrast to the view of history as a fixed, stable account of past events, the evidence reveals that the historical record is continually changing based on contemporary concerns, political motivations, and, in this particular case, the ongoing integration of African Americans into American society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring personal experiences and the historical significance of the holiday. It discusses the author's childhood memories of Juneteenth in church, the spread of celebrations across the U.S., and the importance of understanding history's role in shaping the present and future.