John,
Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom. It’s a celebration of independence. It’s a celebration of emancipation. It commemorates the day enslaved people were declared free in Texas in 1865 – three years after President Lincoln’s emancipation proclamation.
Our newest federal holiday reminds us of how far we’ve come as a nation and how far we still have to go to achieve a more perfect union.
For over 200 years, Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the nation, such as Claflin, Morehouse, Howard, and Spelman, have been critical to the American story.
But right now, HBCUs are at risk of funding cuts and closure. In Mississippi, a state senator recently proposed legislation that would put three of the state’s HBCUs at risk of closure and disproportionately harm Black students across the state.
Sign if you agree: We must support Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Today, over 100 HBCUs enroll more than 300,000 students per year. Although HBCUs represent 3 percent of colleges and universities, they graduate 20 percent of African Americans with undergraduate degrees—and 25 percent of African Americans with degrees in STEM.
TAKE ACTION: Protect Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Protecting HBCUs ensures that higher education is dedicated to fostering Black excellence. They are critical to helping build a multi-racial, multi-ethnic democracy and an economy that works for everyone.
Thank you for your activism and all that you do.
In solidarity,
Ro
