Juneteenth holds special meaning for communities throughout the U.S., but the relevance of this holiday hits close to home for Houstonians.
It was on June 19, 1865 that Union General Gordon Granger and troops reached Galveston and declared that all enslaved people were emancipated by General Order No. 3. This event took place more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Still, Granger’s order was a catalyst to free more than 250,000 enslaved Texans.
In 1980, Texas began recognizing Juneteenth as an official holiday. By 2021, June 19 became a federal holiday. Its popularity continues to grow as does its significance in the lives of so many Americans.
Although the University of Houston will close on June 19 in observance of Juneteenth, the Cougar community will still commemorate this special day through campus events and activities.
For a deeper dive into the history and significance of the Juneteenth holiday, this is a great site to check out: Click here to learn more about Juneteenth.
Juneteenth 2025 Events
Tuesday, June 17 | 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Student Center North, Second Floor Lounge
Hosted by the Center for Student Advocacy and Community (CSAC)
Join us for free t-shirts, cake, teacakes, and drinks as we come together in community to honor the significance of Juneteenth. A gallery will be featured, with selected pieces of the exhibit titled, Rooted in Power: An Archival Celebration of Juneteenth on display.
Monday, June 16 – Monday, June 30
MD Anderson Library, 1st Floor, and Student Center North, 2nd Floor Lounge
Curated by UH Libraries, this archival exhibit highlights pivotal achievements in Black student history at the University of Houston. These milestones, including the founding of the African American Studies Program in 1969, reflect ongoing efforts to advance freedom, leadership, and empowerment.
Rooted in Power features historical materials from the University of Houston Archives housed in UH Libraries Special Collections, with materials displayed in both the MD Anderson Library and the Student Center North Lounge throughout the month of June.
In addition to our upcoming Juneteenth Celebration, we encourage you to explore the many events offered by the greater Houston community. There are so many activities to experience and/or learn from. Click here to see the Greater Houston Juneteenth calendar of events. This is a great site to check out for a deeper dive into the history and significance of the Juneteenth holiday: Click here to learn more about Juneteenth.
If you have questions about the CSAC Juneteenth Gallery or event, please reach out to Beau Trent-Pierce at bdpierce@central.uh.edu
We look forward to celebrating with you.
Warmly,
The Center for Student Advocacy and Community Team