Systemwide Symposium, Local Watch Party and Historical Figures Poster Gallery Among Planned Events
June 06, 2022

One year after Congress passed legislation establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday, the California State University (CSU) and Stanislaus State are commemorating the occasion with local and systemwide events.  

On Wednesday, June 15, and Thursday, June 16, the CSU will hold an inaugural Juneteenth Symposium titled, “By Any Means Necessary: Synthesizing the Voices of Our Ancestors and Everyday People.” The symposium, hosted by CSU Dominguez Hills, will feature speakers, student performances, panel discussions and interactive breakout sessions.  

All symposium events will be live-streamed, and the virtual event is open to the entire CSU community and the general public. Those interested in watching the livestream can register to receive the link. Stanislaus State will host a livestream watch party in the Vasché Library Event Hall for students, faculty and staff.

Register to Attend Stan State's Juneteenth Symposium Watch Party 

Author and Princeton University Professor Emeritus Cornel West and University of Southern California Professor Shaun Harper are the keynote speakers during opening sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. The full agenda and a list of all speakers is available online.  

The Juneteenth Symposium celebrates African American history and achievement and promotes anti-racism work underway across the CSU’s 23 campuses. It’s one of many systemwide and campus programs designed to engage and support Black students in their pursuit of college success, prosperity and self-fulfillment.  

In addition to the symposium watch party, Stanislaus State will host a poster gallery honoring African American history gallery June 13-20 in the Warrior Cross Cultural Center’s CommUnity Room, Library 201. The gallery will be available to view from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. RSVP via email  to the Warrior Cross Cultural Center.  

In conjunction with these events, the CSU will launch its CSU ACTs - Acknowledges, Commits and Transforms initiative. Stan State will host a forum on June 20 to develop a preliminary set of goals, measurable objectives and action steps to advance African American student access and success. Additional details are forthcoming.  

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people were freed. This took place, however, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect in 1863.  

Today, Juneteenth is recognized as a day for African Americans to celebrate freedom, history, culture and achievements. 

The CSU’s Juneteenth Symposium was first envisioned by student leaders who, in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, looked to take purposeful action to combat anti-Black racism, foster authentic intercultural dialogue and highlight the legacies and contributions of the African American community.