Dear Colleagues-Friends,

 

Last month, we received notice from the UT System that Juneteenth is now officially recognized as a state holiday, and therefore all UT offices, campuses, and institutes will now observe Juneteenth as a statewide paid holiday beginning this month. That means the UTHSC campus will be closed on Monday, June 19, in recognition of this national holiday.

 

We commend Governor Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly for passing this important legislation, which allows our students and employees an opportunity to celebrate Freedom Day – thank you!

Juneteenth was established on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, received news from General Gordon Granger, Union Army, that they were free and that the Civil War had ended. The information shared by General Granger was significant because the Emancipation Proclamation abolished slavery in several Confederate states.

 

On June 12, 2021, Juneteenth National Independence Day became the 11th federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. President Joe Biden signed the legislation on June 17, 2021, making Juneteenth law. The national holiday, Juneteenth, is known as Jubilee Day, Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, and Liberation Day. Nationally, Texas was the first state to make Juneteenth a holiday in 1980, and now all 50 states have an observance of Juneteenth.

 

On May 5, 2023, Governor Bill Lee signed a bill into law recognizing Juneteenth as an official state holiday while working collaboratively with the Tennessee General Assembly. Tennesseans will now observe Juneteenth as a day of celebration and reflection.

On Monday, June 19, we have the opportunity to reflect on what a life without freedom and independence looks like as we commemorate Juneteenth across the United States. This self-reflection points to why the value of freedom and independence has different meanings for many of us – and we should acknowledge and respect that difference in life experience. We hope Monday is a valuable day of appreciation and gratitude for the freedom we have and the inclusiveness we should always strive for as a united country.

Sincerely,

Peter Buckley, MD

Chancellor

Michael Alston, EdD

Associate Vice Chancellor for Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity,
and Chief Diversity Officer

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