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Augsburg University Celebrates Juneteenth as an Official University Holiday for the First Time

Augsburg University added Juneteenth (June 19) to its list of official university holidays. For the first time, the university will observe Juneteenth on Friday, June 18. The holiday is a time of mixed emotions, both celebrating the end of legal slavery in the United States and offering time to reflect on continued racism since then. 

Juneteenth originated in 1865 as Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce the end of the Civil War and to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. Learn more about this celebration and its history in this New York Times article.

Jenn Luong, pastoral intern in Augsburg’s Campus Ministry, has composed this reflection and prayer to mark this year’s celebration.

About Augsburg

Augsburg University offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and 11 graduate degrees to 3,400 students of diverse backgrounds at its campus in the vibrant center of the Twin Cities and nearby Rochester, Minnesota, location. Augsburg educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. An Augsburg education is defined by excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies, guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran church, and shaped by its urban and global settings. Learn more at Augsburg.edu.

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