
06/19/2025
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, is annually honored and celebrated on June 19th, marking the day in 1865 when freedom came by executive decree to over 250,000 enslaved Black people in Galveston Bay, Texas. This occurred two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves in Confederate states during the Civil War in 1863, and a few months after the U.S. House of Representatives finally passed the Thirteenth Amendment in January 1865. This amendment stated that “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude” were to exist in the United States. Juneteenth’s historical legacy marks true independence for all people in our country. (Source: National Museum of African American History & Culture)
Today, we recognize Juneteenth as an opportunity to celebrate Black culture, cultivate community, and advocate for socio-political issues facing us in our national climate. The members of Chi Upsilon Sigma encourage you to educate yourself on the historical context of Juneteenth, amplify Black voices across spaces and industries, and support Black-owned businesses.
“Struggle is a never ending process. Freedom is never really won - you earn it and win it in every generation.” - Coretta Scott King