Campus Life

Juneteenth holiday celebrations offer events, resources for campus and community

A block-party style festival to celebrate Juneteenth — "Reflections of Black Experiences: Voices of Freedom Through the Ages" — hosted by the State College NAACP, the Penn State Center for Performing Arts and the MLK Plaza Committee, will be held noon-6 p.m. on Saturday, June 18, on the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, Fraser Street, downtown State College. Credit: ProvidedAll Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — What began as a celebration of the end of slavery in Texas, Juneteenth — an amalgamation of the words "June" and "nineteenth" — has become a holiday commemorating the emancipation of slavery throughout the United States. Also called Jubilation Day or Freedom Day, Juneteenth refers to the Monday in 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, that Union soldiers arrived in Galvaston, Texas, and announced the liberation of America’s more than three million enslaved people.

In 2019, Pennsylvania recognized June 19 as Juneteenth National Freedom Day, and in June 2021, President Joe Biden signed into law an act designating June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day, a federal holiday. Penn State will officially observe it as a University holiday beginning in 2023.

Campus and community members will be provided the opportunity to celebrate and learn more about Juneteenth with upcoming events and a plethora of resources:

Libraries marks Juneteenth with resources for African American culture, history

Penn State University Libraries has compiled a listing of resources, including books, articles, films, artifacts and exhibits that uplift those voices — throughout history and today ­— who promote the work of dismantling racism, with the intention of providing educational resources and continued dialogue.

Palmer Museum of Art Juneteenth Tour

In honor of Juneteenth, the Palmer Museum of Art is offering a self-guided tour that celebrates Black artists whose work is currently on view in the galleries. Visitors can pick up a printed tour guide at the museum’s visitor services desk then discover a rich array of paintings and sculptures from the late 1800s to the present day. To help plan your visit, check out the Palmer’s website for more information.

A Juneteenth Celebration – “Reflections of Black Experiences: Voices of Freedom Through the Ages”

Saturday, June 18, noon-6 p.m., on the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, Fraser Street, downtown State College

A block-style party to commemorate the liberation of the last enslaved people in Texas in 1865 — two full years after the Emancipation Proclamation — will be hosted by the State College NAACP, the Penn State Center for Performing Arts and the MLK Plaza Committee.

The event will feature poetry readings by local youth; musical performances by Grammy-nominated artist Ronnie Burrage; dance by Kikora Franklin featuring Tubist Velvet Brown and Tuba and Dance Fusion Project MOJATUBA; and a dramatic reenactment by renowned actor Charles Dumas; as well as The Byrne Lovett Jazz Band and Eric Ian Farmer, R&B/funk artist Joy, and the Gill Street Band. The Unity Church of Jesus Christ Choir will perform spirituals.

The event will showcase Black vendors from across the state who will offer a variety of merchandise, jewelry, clothing, art and much more. Come sample some delicious cultural dishes from various food vendors including authentic Nigeria, Caribbean, and soulful dishes.

The State College NAACP also will announce the recipients of the Black Excellence Awards, which acknowledge and celebrate Black people who, through their efforts and achievements, make a difference in the community. 

Visit the Facebook page for more information, or to vendor or volunteer.

Juneteenth Juried Arts and Crafts Exhibition

Friday, June 17 — Arts and Crafts exhibition 7 p.m.; awards ceremony 8:15 p.m., Woskob Family Gallery in the Penn State Downtown Theatre, 146 S. Allen St.

Part of the Juneteenth Celebration, "Reflections of Black Experience: Voices of Freedom through the Ages" is the theme of the first Juneteenth Juried Exhibition, curated by Grace Hampton, professor emerita of art, art education and integrative arts, and former vice provost and senior faculty mentor at Penn State. The exhibition will include a range of original two- and three-dimensional artworks, photography, sculpture and crafts produced by individuals of color, and hosted by the College of Arts and Architecture, with refreshments. Music will be provided by the local high school saxophonist Lake Black and his band.

Call for entries: The State College NAACP Juneteenth Exhibition Committee is seeking 2D and 3D works, photography, and crafts made by Black artists for the Arts and Crafts Exhibition. Deadline is on or before 5 p.m. June 13. Please contact Grace Hampton, gxh2@psu.edu, for details.

Film: "Juneteenth: 1865-2021"

Friday, June 17, at 1 p.m., online

A screening of the film "Juneteenth: 1865-2021" will be hosted by Penn State Outreach and Online Education. The film looks back at the meaning of Juneteenth and its history in southeast Texas. Registration is required at this link.

Film: "How They Got Over: Gospel Quartets and the Road to Rock 'n' Roll"

Sunday, June 19, at 2:45 p.m., Turner Classic Movies channel

“How They Got Over: Gospel Quartets and the Road to Rock 'n' Roll," a documentary film produced and narrated by Jerry Zolten, professor of communication arts and sciences and integrative arts at Penn State Altoona, will debut on Turner Classic Movies on Sunday, June 19, at 2:45 p.m. “How They Got Over” tells the story of the decades following World War II when the broad reach of radio and record sales helped Black gospel quartets spread throughout African American communities across the United States.

Last Updated June 13, 2022