Conn community to participate in Juneteenth events commemorating freedom and equality

Several Connecticut College faculty, staff and students will be actively participating in a series of Juneteenth events this weekend. Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, is an annual commemoration of the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. The events aim to promote awareness and unity and celebrate the significance of this historic milestone.

Juneteenth holds immense historical and cultural importance, marking the day when news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached enslaved African Americans in Texas on June 19, 1865. It represents a powerful symbol of resilience, progress and the ongoing fight for racial justice and equality.

Throughout the weekend, members of the Conn community will be engaging in various activities and events across the region to commemorate Juneteenth. Some of the notable events include:

Community Fellowship: This Saturday, June 17, from 2-4 p.m., the Witness Stones Project will host “Juneteenth: A Celebration of Jazz and Poetry” at the Old Lyme Inn, featuring live music and poetry readings from Conn’s Professor of English and Poet in Residence Kate Rushin and other acclaimed writers.

Community Dialogue: On Saturday, June 17, at 1 p.m., organizers and community partners from Amnesty International’s End Gun Violence (EGV) Task Force will be gathering at the Lyceum Conference Center in Hartford. A dynamic panel, including Conn staff member Jacquida Mars, local activists and community leaders, will engage in a thought-provoking discussion about the significance of Juneteenth and to advocate for centering racial justice in gun violence prevention advocacy.

Community Reflection: Professor Nakia Hamlett, Conn’s interim dean of Institutional Equity and Inclusion, will join Town of Groton officials to honor Juneteenth Day at Town Hall on Tuesday, June 20. The program begins at 3:30 p.m.

Art and Culture: Throughout the month, the community is encouraged to take in Barkley L. Hendricks in New London.  The exhibition is on display at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum, which is adjacent to Conn’s campus. The late artist and former Conn faculty member is best known for his expressive, large-scale portraits, many from the 1970s, which present a powerful vision of modern Black identity.