Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
Today,
Juneteenth, is an important day that commemorates the emancipation of
Black people from slavery. Today we celebrate the freedom and
independence of Black people as we advocate for all people who are
underrepresented and marginalized in our country. This year’s Juneteenth
commemoration is marked by a new energy for change amid the recent
troubling and wrenching killings of Black people. Unfortunately, freedom
has not and is not applied equally to all people in our country.
Within
the current calls to further recognize and end racial injustice, today
feels especially significant. As a public university, we have a
responsibility to utilize our resources and knowledge to support Black
communities, other communities of color, Indigenous communities, and
LGBTQ communities at UMD and across Minnesota as we work towards
significant change. I encourage you all to reflect and educate
yourselves on this important history. The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Celebrating Juneteenth is a worthwhile start.
Another
significant milestone occurred this week with the Supreme Court’s
decision to protect LGBTQ civil rights and deny efforts to end legal
protections for young immigrants under the Deferred Action for Childhood
Arrivals (DACA) program. These decisions align with our values and
continuous support to all members of our campus community. Along with
President Gabel and other higher education leaders across the country, I
remain committed to advocating for the continued support of DACA and
the continued goal of providing access to higher education for all. In
September 2017, I joined chancellors and presidents, who are members of
the American Council on Education, in a national letter of support for
DACA. I encourage you to learn more about the DACA program and the work
of the University of Minnesota Immigration Response Team.
On this special day, you have my best wishes for health and peace.
Lendley C. Black
Chancellor
