Honoring Juneteenth, Caribbean Heritage Month, and Pride Month
June 2024
Dear SIPA Community,
On behalf of the DEICE Committee, we look forward to honoring Juneteenth on June 19, marking the anniversary of the last Black American slaves freed in Texas after the arrival of US federal troops there on June 19, 1865. (This was two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect and two months after the end of the Civil War.) An occasion to celebrate Black American culture, resilience and achievement for over 150 years, Juneteenth finally became a US federal holiday in 2021, and a Columbia University holiday in 2023. We join the rest of Columbia in honoring the day, and committing to the work still needed in our own community as well as the larger society to undo systemic racism in all of its forms. We also recognize SIPA’s Black Student Union for their important contributions to this work.
This June, we also honor Caribbean Heritage Month. First recognized by Presidential Proclamation in 2006, the month recognizes the many contributions of people of Caribbean origin, as well as the rich and diverse legacies of Caribbean culture. In his 2024 proclamation, President Biden recognized the perseverance of people with Caribbean roots in the face of systemic barriers over many years. We also honor our students, staff, faculty and alumni of Caribbean heritage.
We also join people around the world and here at Columbia in honoring Pride Month. Efforts to advance the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other gender-nonconforming (LGBTQ+) people in the United States can be traced at least to the 1920s, and the first queer student organization on a US campus was established at Columbia in 1966. The first Pride March in New York City was held on June 28, 1970, the anniversary of the uprising against police harassment of LGBTQ+ people at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village. Despite recent progress in recognizing the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, they still face discrimination, violence and even death in this country and around the world, as President Biden noted in his 2024 LGBTQI+ proclamation. We invite you to learn more about the issues and about resources for LGBTQ+ students, staff, faculty and allies.
We celebrate our LGBTQ+ alumni who are making major contributions to international and public affairs. We also recognize the important contributions of our student organization SPECTRUM in providing a welcoming space for current LGBTQ+ students, advocating for their needs at SIPA, and raising awareness of LGBTQ+ issues in all areas of international and public affairs.
Consider joining some of the Juneteenth, Caribbean Heritage Month, and Pride Month events listed below. For Pride Month, also see these films made by or starring Columbians.
In the coming weeks, we will send a short report on our work over the past year. We look forward to continuing to work with you to make SIPA a more diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible community. In the meantime, we hope you all have restful and rejuvenating summers.
Warm regards,
Jenny McGill and Michael Nutter
DEICE Committee Co-Chairs
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In recognition of Juneteenth, Caribbean Heritage Month, and Pride Month, we invite you to join some of these events and activities:
Events at and around Columbia
June 15 at 11:00 am - 6:00 pm | Schomburg Center Literary Festival
Join the Schomburg Center LIterary Festival, taking place at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Malcolm X Boulevard and 135th Street, from Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard to Malcolm X Boulevard. The Schomburg Center is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences.
June 30 at 12:00 pm | Columbia Pride at 2024 NYC Pride March
Columbia Pride, the LGBTQ+ alumni group sponsored by the Columbia Alumni Association, invites LGBTQ+ alumni, students, staff, faculty, and allies across Columbia to join in the annual tradition of marching in the NYC Pride March. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to build community and show your pride!
Events and Activities in New York City
Juneteenth Events, June 2024. See this listing of numerous events and activities happening around New York City to honor Juneteenth. Columbia Neighbors also recommends these uptown events celebrating Juneteenth.
Caribbean Heritage Month Events, June 2024. Check out these events and exhibits celebrating the month, as well as these additional activities honoring Caribbean culture and contributions in New York City.
2024 NYC Pride March, June 30, 2024. See the Heritage of Pride website for details on this and related events.