As the nation celebrates the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth, so too does Wichita State University.

June 19 is the annual celebration of the end of slavery. Though the Emancipation Proclamation was signed Jan. 1, 1863, and the Civil War ended April 9, 1865, more than 250,000 remained enslaved in Texas when Union troops arrived in Galveston on June 19, 1865, to order their emancipation. Texas was the first state to adopt the formal holiday in 1980.

“Freedom Day is about setting our minds free from thoughts and things that hold us back from becoming successful in life and work,” said Dr. Marche Fleming-Randle, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer. “It's time to embrace the difference in color of our skin and celebrate our differences with respect and happiness. The struggle is real, but there is no progress without a struggle!”

While our nation has made progress, we must continue to work to ensure freedom, equality and justice for all.

For more information on Juneteenth commemoration in Wichita, visit KMUW. For more information on the history of Juneteenth, visit the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture website.