Skip to content

Celebrating Juneteenth!

Maria Zegarra

FVI News
Published:

Juneteenth -fREEDOM DAY

June 19 –Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States

Celebrating Juneteenth
A day to recognize the many positive contributions of African Americans to our society. Happy Juneteenth Day!

Amid the national and international protests in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, there has been an incredible political mobilization for racial justice. This creates a huge opportunity for every American to seek to revisit our American history, acknowledge the real scars and unhealed wounds of our past and present and fully recognize the positive contributions of African Americans that have made up the country we are today.

HISTORY OF JUNETEENTH

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.  Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.  Source: JUNETEENTH.com 

What is Juneteenth? 

Juneteenth, a nationwide event, is also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day, and the Black Fourth of July celebrated annually on June 19th. In 1980, “Emancipation Day in Texas” became a legal state holiday in recognition of Juneteenth. There are a number of other states that are moving to recognize Juneteenth as an official holiday. There is also a push to make it a national holiday. 

It is a day in recognition of the positive contributions of African Americans to our society and to observe the ending of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1985, Union General Gordon Granger led thousands of federal troops to Galveston, Texas to announce the Civil War had ended, and slaves had been freed. This was more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed. 

“But, if this part of our history could be told in such a way that those chains of the past, those shackles that physically bound us together against our wills could, in the telling, become spiritual links that willingly bind us together now and into the future – then that painful Middle Passage could become, ironically, a positive connecting line to all of us whether living inside or outside the continent of Africa…”      
-Tom Feelings 

 The passage above truly captures the spirit of Juneteenth and the mission of JUNETEENTH.com.  Read it slowly, several times, until you internalize its message – then you will know and feel the passion, the inspiration, and the necessity of this cause.   

The future of Juneteenth looks bright as the number of cities and states creating Juneteenth committees continues to increase. Respect and appreciation for all our differences grow out of exposure and working together. Getting involved and supporting Juneteenth celebrations creates new bonds of friendship and understanding among us. This indeed brightens our future. 

If this was new to you, please share it with a friend, family member, or neighbor.  

Questions? While we continue following al guidelines and safety precautions, at both campuses we have started our reopening phase where students come to practices, labs, and hands-on training on small groups to continue our hybrid mode programs. You cancontact us or call 786-574-3350 today to learn how you can begin your career in the healthcare field with us 

At FVI, we will continue monitoring the spread of COVID-19 as we have started the transition to our on-campus & online hybrid mode programs. We will keep you up to date on the status of our Miami Campus and Miramar Campus and will continue to inform you about our reopening stages. Stay safe, remember our sanitation tips, and thank you for choosing FVI School of Nursing and Technology & Technology to begin your journey to a rewarding career in healthcare. 

All nursing programs offered at FVI are approved by the Florida Board of Nursing Professional Nursing NCLEX Code Miramar US70415200 Professional Nursing NCLEX Code Miami US70418900 FVI School of Nursing and Technology (FVI) is licensed by the State of Florida, Commission for Independent Education (CIE) Miami (main) campus License Number: 3441/ Miramar campus License Number: 6010 The Associate of Science programs at FVI School of Nursing and Technology, Miramar, Florida and Miami, Florida are accredited by the Accredited Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). FVI School of Nursing and Technology is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE) ID# 312400 since November 03, 2010

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing logo