June 14, 2023

Dear Members of the Drexel Community,

I want to take this moment to wish everyone in our community a happy and inspirational Juneteenth celebration of Black history, arts and culture, and empowerment, all of which are indispensable to our pursuit of a more just society in which everyone can flourish.

Juneteenth is more than a day for celebration, it is also a call for us to honor the Juneteenth spirit of freedom and justice for all throughout the year not only by educating ourselves further about Black history and achievements, but also by challenging the structures of racism and replacing them with equitable structures and affirmations of anti-racism.

There will be many Juneteenth events, block parties, exhibits, discussions, and other festivities throughout Greater Philadelphia over the weekend to celebrate the end of chattel slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865. There are also a number of resources available, including the National Museum of African American History & Culture/Smithsonian Juneteenth site, to learn more about this holiday and its enduring significance and relevance to our times.

We can draw instruction and inspiration by learning more about the strength, sacrifice and resilience of those who came before that led to this important moment. Please join the Center for Black Culture (CBC), along with the Office of Institutional Equity and Inclusion, and Black Employees at Drexel (BEAD) at a Community Art Exhibit and Juneteenth Block Party on Wednesday, June 21, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Lancaster Walk and Rush Garden.

We must remain steadfast in our commitment to change the way we think and the way we act. That is why channeling our intellectual and institutional resources toward fulfilling our anti-racism commitments continues to be an essential part of our work, individually and as a University community.

In community,

John Fry
President