Canisius joined communities across the nation in commemoration of Juneteenth. It was on June 19, 1865, that Major General Gordon Granger announced the end of slavery in Galveston, Texas, enforcing the Emancipation Proclamation and confirming the freedom of the last remaining slaves in the Deep South.
Canisius celebrated Juneteenth with a Sankofa Day in collaboration with Juneteenth of Buffalo. The principle of Sankofa honors the cultural tradition of remembering and bringing wisdom from the past to make positive progress in the future.
The campus community came together for a day of education, solidarity and service. The event included remarks from President Steve Stoute, and workshops with the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, Erie Niagara Health Education Center, and the African American Heritage Corridor. Participants completed service projects with the City Mission and Fostering Greatness, Inc., and enjoyed an African drumming experience.
“This commemoration is an important tradition at Canisius,” says Fatima Rodriguez Johnson, associate dean of diversity and inclusion at Canisius. “Our hope is to inspire conversation and action in our ongoing work toward anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion.”
Canisius was founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, and is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
