On Juneteenth, our work remains unfinished

On the stroke of midnight, January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect, freeing all enslaved African Americans in Confederate territory. But freedom did not arrive everywhere at once. More than 250,000 African Americans remained enslaved in Texas until June 19, 1865, the date we now commemorate as Juneteenth. 

Since then, Black and African Americans have secured hard-won civil rights, including the Voting Rights Act of 1965, desegregation in the military and public schools, and regulations that protect vulnerable communities from environmental pollution. These rights benefit everyone in the United States. They are stepping stones, carved by previous generations who believed that one day, U.S. Americans could fulfill the promise of “liberty and justice for all” — even if not in their lifetimes. 

Just four years ago, Juneteenth received unanimous support in the U.S. Senate and became our newest federal holiday. Juneteenth is a much-needed cause for celebration. Let it also be a call to continue the work that remains unfinished. We must recommit to civic engagement, trusting that our efforts will indeed move society closer to a more just and prosperous future for all. 

UW Tacoma is proud to sponsor Washington state’s largest Juneteenth celebration at Stewart Heights Park, and we hope you can join us there on June 19 for a joyous, community-centered day!