Recognizing Juneteenth 2021

Juneteenth, also called Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and is observed annually on June 19. It marks the day in 1865 when the news of the Emancipation Proclamation’s signing reached Texas, the farthest U.S. state, signaling to that state’s slaves that they were free. 

This commemoration of freedom for Black Americans is an opportunity for all of us at NYU Silver to engage with and reflect on a major historical moment through the lens of our profession’s core values, and as a community. Because June 19, 2021, falls on a Saturday, NYU Silver will be observing Juneteenth on Monday, June 21 with a paid holiday for our employees. Beginning in the 2021-22 academic year, NYU as a whole will recognize Juneteenth as an official University holiday.

We encourage members of the Silver community to not only celebrate and reflect on June 21, but also to participate in the following Juneteenth recognition events planned at Silver and across the University:

• Wednesday, June 16, 10-11:30 a.m. -- The School’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office will host Humanity Now!, a healing circle facilitated by restorative justice practitioner and MSW L. Tomay Douglas. The circle will be open to all faculty and staff.
  

• Wednesday, June 16, 1-2:15 p.m. -- A Juneteenth Conversation Reflecting on the Legacy of Ralph Ellison, a discussion organized by NYU Office of Global Inclusion and Diversity and featuring as a panelist Kirk “Jae” James, NYU Silver Clinical Assistant Professor.

In addition, the School’s Staff Antiracism Training Workgroup is also sponsoring a summer reading and discussion group on Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man. Copies of the book are being made available to staff members who request them by June 16, 2021.