Juneteenth

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, marks the day in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation and ensure that all enslaved people were freed.

In line with its longstanding commitment to inclusive excllence, Wayne State University hosts an annual Juneteenth Celebration, a series of events commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and fostering a deeper understanding of the ongoing quest for equality and justice.

2025 Theme: Sankofa - Connecting the Present with the Past

Event	Date	Time	Location
Looking Ahead to Juneteenth: Detroit History is Black History II: Panel Discussion on the Young and Archer Years	February 25, 2025	5:00 - 7:30 PM	Industry Innovation Center 461 Burroughs St. Detroit, MI 48202
Looking Ahead to Juneteenth: Burning Down the House (and a Whole Neighborhood): The 1985 Philadelphia Police Bombing of the MOVE Headquarters in partnership with the Detroit Center for Black Studies, WSU Law School's Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights, WSU's Political Science Department, and WSU's Office of Multicultural Engagement	April 3, 2025	6:30 - 9:00 PM	Law School - Partrich Auditorium 471 W. Palmer Ave. Detroit, MI 48202
Looking Ahead to Juneteenth: Legacy in Action - The Malcom X Centennial Birthday Debate featuring the Umoja Debate League	May 19, 2025	5:30 - 7:30 PM	M. Roy Wilson State Hall - Malcom X Auditorium (Room #1101) 5143 Cass Ave. Detroit, MI 48202
From Reflection to Action: The Sankofa Series Presents “Looking Back with Purpose” – A Juneteenth Keynote Address By Dr. Lisa Bratton, Assistant Professor of History at Tuskegee University	June 17, 2025	5:30 - 7:30 PM	St. Andrew’s Hall 5105 Anthony Wayne Drive, Detroit, MI 48202
From Reflection to Action: The Sankofa Series Presents “Building Forward with Wisdom” – A Juneteenth Genealogy Discovery Event By Dr. Carolyn Carter, Professional Genealogist, Historian, and Researcher	June 25, 2025	5:30 - 7:30 PM	Undergraduate Library – Computer Lab C 5155 Gullen Mall Detroit, MI 48202

Get Involved

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If you have any additional questions, please reach out to juneteenth@wayne.edu.