As FRCC joins the nation in recognizing Juneteenth, we reflect on the deeper meanings of this important holiday through voices from within the college community.
These insights remind us that Juneteenth is not just a date on the calendar but a living part of American memory.
Resilience and Agency
“Probably the most important emphasis for Juneteenth is that it helps us celebrate the role that African Americans themselves played in ending slavery and then how much it meant to them in the years and decades after the war,” shared Andy DeRoche, a history and ethnic studies faculty member at FRCC.
This perspective reframes Juneteenth not simply as the end of an era of bondage, but as a celebration of resilience and agency and a story led by African Americans themselves.
While the Civil War and Reconstruction are often taught with a focus on failure and political dysfunction, Andy emphasized that “as far as the significance of the Civil War and the end of slavery, the fact that African Americans played such a big role in that is one of the most important things in world history.”
Beyond the History
Juneteenth marks the moment in 1865 when the Union army arrived in Galveston, Texas, and enforced the Emancipation Proclamation more than two years after it had been issued.
“It was initially, in Texas, a celebration of the fact that the Union army had finally gotten there… So it was a celebration among African Americans; many of them were just finding out that they were free,” Andy explained.
Evolution of Celebrations
These celebrations continued for decades across the US, particularly as African Americans migrated north and west.
“You can find wonderful old photographs of celebrations in Texas, but also around the country… And now, it’s something that not only the African American community acknowledges,” Andy said. “That’s crucial.”
Lived Experiences Provide Insight
While Andy helps us understand the historical framework around Juneteenth, lived experiences like this one — shared by FRCC President Colleen Simpson, EdD, in a previous blog post — bring that history to life:
“In my early years as a child in New York City, I didn’t know much about Juneteenth. I don’t even recall a discussion in my home… From everything I can recall from my youth, this was not a part of our early life learning and teaching. At the time, I felt a little relieved to know I was not the only young person in the dark about this significant moment in history — but it was also sad for me.”
Unearthing History, Inspiring Legacy
Her discovery of Juneteenth sparked something deeper:
“At 16 years old, my curiosity led me on my first adventure to a church gathering at the great Abyssinian Baptist Church — it was my first encounter of a celebration of Juneteenth,” President Simpson recalls.
“There was no federal holiday back then. It was a church service with families and communities celebrating with food, music and reflection to appreciate the progress of African Americans.”
Federal Recognition
The establishment of Juneteenth as a federal holiday in 2021 marked a significant cultural milestone.
“It’s a big deal to create a new federal holiday,” Andy said. But he also stressed that it is “just the beginning,” and the conversation should continue beyond the holiday.
At FRCC, that conversation continues on campus today. Andy sees Juneteenth as a vital teaching moment.
“It helps us appreciate the role of African Americans in ending slavery… It wasn’t just this powerful president ending slavery with the stroke of a pen; it was African Americans — from day one, or even well before the Civil War — putting pressure on the system.”
Diving Into the Past
He encourages students not just to learn history, but to investigate it.
“It’s a way to dig deeper into aspects of history, ethnic studies or other disciplines,” he added. “They can find topics that they’re super interested in and really get into it.”
And that passion for learning links the history of Juneteenth to our college’s mission.
“You look at this incredible desire that African Americans had for education. It links us back to Front Range and the lengths to which people will go to get their education.”
Learn More
For those interested in digging deeper, Andy recommends a poem that highlights the quest for education that followed Juneteenth: “Learning to Read” by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.
For those moved by music, he suggests listening to the song “No More Auction Block For Me” by Odetta, a powerful spiritual rooted in the historical experience of slavery and emancipation.
However you choose to spend your Juneteenth this year, may it be a moment of reflection, celebration and continued commitment to the freedom and dignity it represents.
