Siena Blog

As part of Siena’s continuing mission of community outreach, diversity, and education, we’re joining many educators and others across the country in commemorating Juneteenth (Freedom Day). June 19, 2020, is the 155th anniversary of the day in 1865 when the last enslaved persons in Texas were emancipated. This was two-and-half years after President Lincoln emancipated enslaved people in Washington, DC, on April 16, 1862. 

We recognize that, although this is an historically significant day, the work that Juneteenth represents must continue each day. Here are some resources for all of us to engage with and discover ways to celebrate:

• An original order of emancipation in the National Archives from June 19, 1865. 
• A list of commemorations, protests, vigils, and other events in the DC area for today, as well as this brief history of Juneteenth’s extra historical significance in light of recent events. 
• See the “Juneteenth: A Celebration of Resilience” from the African American History and Culture Museum
• Locally, the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site in southeast DC, where Douglass lived late in his life and, among other work, finished his final autobiography, Life and Times of Frederick Douglass. Douglass also attended the dedication of Lincoln Park in northeast DC. As of 1974, Lincoln Park also features a statue of famed educator and civil rights activist Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune.
• Look at these resources and material from Ashleigh Lawrence-Sanders of the University of Dayton and Cheryl Hicks of the University of Delaware.
• Read this editorial from Dr. Tera Hunter from Princeton about Juneteenth.
• DC’s Loyalty Books has a fantastic list of Antiracist Reading Recommendations, as well as a virtual book club about antiracist works. Also check this Juneteenth Reading List from Random House and this one from Colours of Us for children’s books. 
• Juneteenth Book Fest on YouTube will continue sharing material related to this important day—and everything it entails. They also have an online bookstore. 

See this message to our community from our Head of School and Founder, as well as our growing list of anti-racism resources.