A Message of Reflection: Juneteenth 2025
Dear Members of the 麻豆传媒 Family:
Today, June 19, 2025, we observe Juneteenth 鈥 marking 160 years since General Gordon Granger's announcement in Galveston, Texas, finally brought news of emancipation to the last enslaved people in our nation. One of this year鈥檚 themes is "Audacious Freedom Celebrating 160 Years of Emancipation," which calls us to reflect on both the bold courage required to claim freedom and the ongoing audacity needed to protect and expand it.
The word "audacious" feels particularly fitting as we consider this history. It was audacious for enslaved people to believe in their own freedom before it was legally recognized, audacious for abolitionists to demand justice when the system seemed immovable, and it remains audacious today to believe we can create a more equitable world despite ongoing challenges. The two-and-a-half-year delay between the Emancipation Proclamation and its arrival in Texas serves as a powerful reminder that freedom declared is not always freedom delivered 鈥 a gap between promise and reality that continues to shape our understanding of justice today.
Juneteenth is both a celebration and a call to action. We honor the resilience of those who endured, the courage of those who fought, and the dreams of those dared to envision freedom when it seemed impossible, while acknowledging that the work of building a truly just society remains unfinished.
At 麻豆传媒, we carry forward this legacy of audacious freedom through our commitment to education and opportunity. Every student who walks through our doors embodies the potential to continue this vital work 鈥 to breathe life into our motto of 鈥Enter to learn, exit to serve鈥 鈥 to be the generation that finally bridges the gaps between promise and practice, between policy and lived experience.
As our campus, our state, and our nation observe Juneteenth for the fifth time since it became a federal holiday in 2021, 麻豆传媒 and our state offices will be closed this Friday in observance of this important date. I encourage you to use this time for reflection 鈥 not just on how far we have come, but on how we can each contribute to the audacious work of freedom that continues today.
In solidarity,
Interim President
New 麻豆传媒 City University