College closing at noon on June 18 to recognize new federal holiday for Juneteenth

Announcements, Community

Jun 18, 2021

Yesterday, President Joe Biden signed legislation that immediately establishes Juneteenth (June 19) as a federal holiday to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.

Since June 19 falls on a Saturday this year, all Cincinnati State campuses will close today, Friday, June 18, 2021, at noon, to commemorate this historic event and new federal holiday.

As President Biden said in a signing ceremony at the White House: “All Americans can feel the power of this day, and learn from our history.”

Juneteenth commemorates the date June 19, 1865– about two months after the U.S. Civil War ended– when enslaved African-Americans in Galveston, Texas, were informed that President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation about two and a half years earlier, freeing all slaves in the U.S.
The National Museum of African American History and Culture, a part of the Smithsonian Institution, describes the holiday saying: “Juneteenth marks our country’s second independence day. Although it has long been celebrated in the African American community, this monumental event remains largely unknown to most Americans. The historical legacy of Juneteenth shows the value of never giving up hope in uncertain times.”
To learn more about the history and legacy of Juneteenth, visit: https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog-post/historical-legacy-juneteenth

Cincinnati State President Monica Posey said, “Juneteenth can best be celebrated through reflection and service to others. I also see it as an opportunity to continue our efforts related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at Cincinnati State.”

“Our new DEI Steering Council will have its first meeting on July 1 and I look forward to sharing more soon about the Council’s work.”