The month of June in the history of the United States is significant for many reasons. June has given citizens reasons to remember the sacrifices of brave people that came before us and unite to continue the path for a better future. To educate and share about some of the unifying moments that have happened in our country over the years in June, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee at Northern Pennsylvania Regional College is bringing awareness to some of the history of our country that’s happened during this month.
The purpose of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee is to “recommend ways to integrate and promote the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion across the College community; engage students, faculty, and staff through relevant professional development and educational opportunities; and evaluate the College’s policies and practices with a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens.”
To promote learning and bring support to our local communities, the College has identified Juneteenth and Pride Day/Month as happenings with a rich history to learn more about.
Juneteenth
Otherwise known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, Juneteenth is an important day in the history of the United States. A holiday celebrated in African American history for nearly 160 years, the year 2021 marked the first year in which Juneteenth became recognized as a federal holiday. Juneteenth is the first federal holiday to be signed into law since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.
Congress signed the holiday into law on June 17, 2021, to ensure American citizens continue to commemorate this important day in our nation’s history. On June 19, 1865, Union Army general, Gordon Granger, proclaimed freedom for slaves in the state of Texas, the last state of the former Confederacy that still had institutional slavery.
Considered the longest-running African American holiday, celebrations normally take place on the third Saturday in June, with goals to “congregate, educate, and agitate” in order to “bridge social gaps, construct a usable past, and voice political opinions,” according to JSTOR Daily.
For more information about the history of Juneteenth, check out this additional article.
Pride Month/Day
Pride month is an annual month-long celebration taking place each June to both honor and remember the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan and celebrate individuals living their authentic lives as members of the LGBTQ+ community. Many cities around the United States established the last Sunday of June as Pride Day, but the day eventually became flexible, leading to the entire month of June being established as Pride Month. What has transpired over the last 50 years includes celebrations such as parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia, concerts, and many other events to celebrate and have conversation surrounding the LGBTQ+ community. Organizers hold many memorial events to remember those who paved the path for those in the community today who have many more rights and opportunities that those just half a decade previously did not have. These memorials honor the trailblazers from the LGBTQ+ community over the years.
For more information on Pride Month, check out this article.