Juneteenth Message
From President Frank H. Wu and Student Association President Zaire Couloute:
We are writing to you a few days before Juneteenth, or “Freedom Day,” traditionally celebrated on June 19, to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. The holiday was first observed in 1865 in Texas, when enslaved people were declared free. Though that was a major milestone for this still-young country, unfortunately it was not the end of the story.
Our society still suffers from the longstanding impact of the racism and bigotry that reaches back to its roots. Yes, we have come a long way, but no, sadly, we have not reached the finish line. That is why it is important that we at Queens College—an inclusive institution of higher education that supports students of every background and identity—reaffirm our enduring commitment for achieving social justice and equality.
Indeed, our college’s long association with the civil rights movement continues to inspire. The namesakes of the campus’s iconic clock tower—the activists James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner—were killed in Mississippi while registering Black voters almost 56 years ago this month. Goodman was a Queens College student; Schwerner was the husband of a Queens College student and the brother of Steven Schwerner, the college’s longtime director of Counseling and Academic Senate chair. We are inextricably linked to the sacrifices they made in defense of freedom.
The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. addressed our campus nearly a year after Goodman and his colleagues were murdered. Every January, QC students take an experiential trip to Civil Rights landmarks in Alabama and Georgia led by Rabbi Moshe Shur, who knew Dr. King, in conjunction with MLK Jr. Day. The Percy Ellis Sutton Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge (SEEK) Program was forged in the crucible of the civil rights struggle of the late 1960s.
As a country, we recently marked 100 years since the Tulsa Race Massacre, a devastating event that shows the tragic and very real impact of racism. We must do better and ensure that our society is a safe place by building coalitions to strengthen all of our communities. This is an appropriate time for us at Queens College to emphasize our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We strive to make our campus a welcoming environment for all as we continue to advance our motto, Discimus ut Serviamus, we learn so that we may serve. We understand that by working together and promoting allyship, we can help resolve our differences, build on common strengths, and create a better, stronger society.