“On behalf of the University and our ancestors, I welcome you to our second Juneteenth program,” said LaRee Sugg, deputy director of athletics for policy and sports management, before a crowd of more than 100 at Cannon Memorial Chapel.

The program, held Friday, offered an opportunity for the campus and the wider community to come together for both contemplation and celebration. Juneteenth recognizes the freeing of the last slaves in the U.S. in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865 — two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Junior Yamir Chapman began the afternoon ceremony by highlighting important dates in African American history. He later observed, “Today, we are celebrating endurance, where we are coming from, but more importantly, where we are going.”

Valerie Cassel Oliver, the Sydney and Frances Lewis Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, offered the keynote address.

A native of Texas, Oliver grew up commemorating Juneteenth. “It was something to be celebrated that was all our own,” Oliver said. “It was a way to remember a historical event, but also to remember the ancestors who persevered and preserved these histories.”

Donté Thompson, a 2023 graduate, gave a soaring vocal performance to close the event. “Both of these encapsulate the spirit of Juneteenth,” he said, before performing the African American spiritual “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child,” then leading the crowd in “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” often referred to as the Black national anthem. Music professor Joanne Kong accompanied on piano.  

Following the program, the community enjoyed a performance by renowned local drummer Ram Bhagat.

The event was co-hosted by Human Resources, the Office for Institutional Equity & Inclusion, and Richmond Athletics.

“The reflections and performances were so powerful,” said Alexandra Byrum, director of communications and community relations for equity & community. “The event offered a beautiful opportunity for learning and celebration.

Juneteenth, as a holiday, was adopted by the state of Virginia in 2020. In 2021, the federal government and the University began to honor it as an official holiday.

“Recognizing and celebrating Juneteenth aligns with the broader effort of ensuring the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging here at the University of Richmond,” said Courtney Hughes, assistant athletics director for academic support and civic engagement. “This celebration is a public recognition and acknowledgement of the experiences and contributions of African Americans within not only on our campus but society as a whole.”