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51��ɫ College honored Juneteenth with a day of reflection, community, and celebration on Monday, June 16. The commemoration began with a morning flag-raising ceremony on Central Campus, followed by a community gathering featuring food, music, and messages of resilience and joy.

The Juneteenth Ceremony, hosted by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI), took place at 11 a.m. with a program in the HSSC Auditorium. The ceremony highlighted the history of Juneteenth, which marks the date—June 19, 1865—when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation and free the last remaining enslaved Black Americans, more than two years after the proclamation was issued.

The Juneteenth flag, raised on campus as a symbol of both remembrance and resolve, features a red, white, and blue color scheme to reflect the American flag and acknowledge that Black Americans have always been integral to the American story.

The celebration continued from noon to 2 p.m. in the HSSC multipurpose rooms and atriums. Attendees gathered for a community lunch catered by of Iowa City. The program included stirring performances from vocalist Mattilyn Scott and pianist Octavius Evans, as well as a speech by Heather Jones-Brown that underscored the importance of honoring Black history and amplifying Black voices.

“Juneteenth is a time for us to reflect, remember, and rejoice,” said Jawanza Evans, assistant chief diversity officer for community training, education, and belonging with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. “Our ODEI team came together with heart and purpose to create a celebration that honored the significance of this day, while bringing our community together in joy and solidarity.”