Today marks the day in 1865 when General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to share the news that the Civil War had ended and the Emancipation Proclamation had freed enslaved people. BonaBRAVE would like to invite the campus community to join together to remember and celebrate.

According to the Juneteenth.com website:

The observance of Juneteenth is about the journey and achievement of African Americans – from a horrific period of sanctioned enslavement to the pinnacle of human endeavors. It is a story of pride, resilience and determination that will always be of historical and spiritual importance – and it serves us well to understand that together, we can overcome all obstacles in our path.  

We ask that you take some time to remember the remarkable history that brings us to this point; you can find more information at the following links. Additionally, a transcript of the Emancipation Proclamation may be found by clicking here.

• Juneteenth  (basic history of Juneteenth with information on events around the country)
• National Museum of African American History and Culture (celebrate Juneteenth with a virtual tour led by Founding Director Lonnie Bunch III)
• Southern Poverty Law Center (features and stories related to Juneteenth)
• CNN story (brief overview of Juneteenth)
• African American Center for Cultural Development (information about our Olean African American Cultural Center)
• Olean Juneteenth Black Lives Matter Rally in Franchot Park, 6-9 p.m. tonight. All are welcome. ***Please wear masks and maintain social distancing as much as possible. We stand for social justice AND social responsibility.***

BonaBRAVE (Bona Respects Accepts Values Engages) formed primarily to raise awareness of issues facing women but expanded to include other marginalized groups. Our goal is to foster a greater understanding of issues facing women and minorities and engage in activities designed to increase that knowledge and bolster unity.

BonaBRAVE is Sydney Best, Bethanne Chimbel, Kimberly DeSimone, Jennifer Eastman, Pauline Hoffmann, Matt King, Jose Medrano, Rebecca O’Connor, Jennifer Pulver, Jill Smith, Robin Valeri, and Caitlin Webster.