TSU will honor Juneteenth at several events throughout the upcoming two weeks – both on campus and in the Houston region.Juneteenth celebrates the day that slaves in Galveston, TX, were notified of their freedom. On June 19, 1865, General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston and announced the end of slavery. However, this news came almost two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.TSU alumnus and former state representative, the late Al Edwards (’66), initiated legislation to establish Juneteenth as a holiday in Texas. As a freshman state representative, Edwards, commonly known as “Mr. Juneteenth,” introduced the holiday under House Bill 1016.This year, the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs is commemorating Juneteenth by launching the TSU Juneteenth Statewide Calendar and Website. This website is a resource for Juneteenth events around the state of Texas. The event also includes an invitation-only virtual and in-person roundtable discussion about Juneteenth that will be recorded and made available on the website during the week of June 19.Juneteenth events involving TSU include:
Juneteenth HBCU Alliance Golf Tournament sponsored by TSU & PVAMU national alumni associations
Thursday, June 16, 2022; 8 a.m., Hermann Park Golf CourseJoin the TSU and PVAMU national alumni associations for the Juneteenth HBCU Alliance Golf Tournament, taking place at Hermann Park on Thursday, June 16, at 8 a.m.Click here for more details.
Juneteenth – Freedom Work (in-person and virtual discussion)
Friday, June 17, 2022; 8:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Hudspeth Auditorium (Glasscock School of Continuing Studies), Rice UniversityJoin the TSU National Alumni Association, the PVAMU National Alumni Association, and the Rice University Association of Rice Alumni to celebrate Juneteenth with three panels exploring ideas and questions central to the holiday.Tickets are free and required for the in-person event. Reserve a seat here. Online via Zoom: Register here.Click here for more details.
Juneteenth HBCU Virtual Career Fair
Friday, June 17, 2022; 11 a.m.-2 p.m., VirtualThe TSU Career Center has partnered with the PVAMU Career Center, as well as the TSU and PVAMU national alumni associations, and will host a Juneteenth HBCU Virtual Career on Friday, June 17, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Participants will use the virtual platform Handshake to access the event.Click here to register for the event. Contact TSU Career Services at 713-313-7541 for more information.
Juneteenth Holiday Social
Friday, June 17, 2022, 5-11 p.m.; Buffalo Soldiers Museum, 3816 Caroline St., Houston, TX 77004)Leveraging the power of the Black Professional Alliance and HBCU alumni, this event connects you with urban professionals and young millennials celebrating the Juneteenth weekend. Chubb Rock will perform during the event.For more information, click here.
Mayor Turner’s 9th Annual Acres Homes Juneteenth Parade
Saturday, June 18, 2022, 10 a.m.-noon; Acres Homes Multi-Service Center (6719 W. Montgomery, Houston, TX)KTSU 90.9FM will emcee the parade as the official radio sponsor of the 9th Annual Acres Homes Juneteenth Parade, hosted by Mayor Sylvester Turner. For more information, click here.
Emancipation Park’s 150th Juneteenth Celebration, presented by Kinder Foundation
Saturday, June 18, and Sunday, June 19, 2022, 4-10 p.m. each dayKTSU 90.9FM hosts the main stage at Emancipation Park’s sold-out 150th Juneteenth Celebration, presented by Kinder Foundation, which will be the largest event in the Park’s history. This once in a lifetime occasion highlights the Park’s legacy and sets the stage for the next 150 years. Live performances by the Isley Brothers, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Kool and the Gang, and Sheila E. The celebration opens on Saturday with a ceremony acknowledging Juneteenth and Emancipation Park’s history. Throughout the day attendees will have access to local vendors, interactive kid zones and much more.While this is a sold-out event, you can listen to KTSU 90.9FM throughout the week for limited ticket giveaways. Click here for more information.
Juneteenth: The Journey to Freedom
Sunday, June 19, 8:30-11 p.m., Miller Outdoor TheatreJoin with official radio partner KTSU 90.9FM for a brilliant performance filled with dramatic visuals, live music, narrations, and dance that tells the story of African Americans from 1865 to today and their journey to the celebration of freedom. Presented in partnership with Miller Outdoor Theatre, Houston First and City of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. Additionally, this performance will be livestreamed. You can choose to watch it on the Miller Outdoor Theater website here, the YouTube Channel here, or Facebook here!Click here for more information.
“The Sound of Freedom: A Juneteenth Celebration”
Saturday, June 25, 2022, 3 p.m.Dr. Jason Oby, Chairman of the TSU Department of Music, has curated an exciting program for the Houston Ebony Opera Guild’s next concert. Serving as the finale for our region’s 2022 observance of Juneteenth, the program is entitled “The Sound of Freedom: A Juneteenth Celebration.” The program will feature art songs and arrangements of African American spirituals by contemporary and pioneering composers renowned for their work in those genres. Dr. Gwendolyn Alfred, soprano and coordinator of the voice faculty will also be prominently featured on the program. This concert will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, June 25, 2022, at the historic Antioch Baptist Church – Downtown, 500 Clay Street, Houston, Texas 77002. Admission is free, with donations gratefully accepted.