Post by University of Washington Tacoma

"My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together." —Desmond Tutu The Emancipation Proclamation took effect on January 1, 1863, declaring freedom for more than 3.5 million African Americans who were enslaved in Confederate-held states. But freedom didn't reach everyone at once — it spread unevenly across the South. For 250,000 enslaved African Americans in Texas, freedom would take two more years to arrive. On June 19, 1865, the U.S. Army arrived and enforced emancipation from those who fought to uphold chattel slavery. This is the date we now commemorate as Juneteenth. Throughout U.S. history, we’ve struggled to fully realize our promise of liberty and justice for all. This deep struggle continues today. In this context, celebrating may feel complicated, but Juneteenth is a joyous, community-led celebration. It’s a critical part of how we remember the past, honor those who advanced freedom and recommit to engaging with and for our communities. Celebrations are happening all weekend across the South Sound. UW Tacoma is proud to be an official sponsor of Tacoma’s Juneteenth Celebration at Lemay Car Museum, the largest in the state of Washington, starting at noon today (6/19). Join us! Learn more at juneteenthwa.com. #Juneteenth #UWTacoma #TacomaHuskies #TacomaWA