May is truly a packed month, with many different themes of celebration! Here are two that stand out from the perspective of celebrating diversity.
Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month was originally celebrated for one week under President Jimmy Carter, who signed it into law in 1978. It was extended to month under President George H. Bush in 1990, and then renamed to its current inclusive name under President Obama in 2009. May was selected in acknowledgment of the historical significance of the first Japanese immigrants to the U.S. on May 7, 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad by over 20,0000 Asian immigrants on May 10, 1869. As of the 2020 Census, there are 24 million people in the U.S. from significantly diverse backgrounds under the AAPI umbrella.
Jewish Heritage Month According to several sources, the month of May was chosen because of its meaningfulness to the Jewish community around the world. Notably, it often lines up with Shavuot or the “Feast of Weeks,” which celebrates the spring harvest and commemorates the revelation of the Torah. Read the White House Proclamation.
Of course, it is also Mental Health Awareness Month, which brings special public focus to issues we all deal with every day of the year. As we acknowledge the ever surging need for quality care for those dealing with life stressors at every level, here is a fact sheet from HHS to review some of the progress made.
As we are approaching June, I wanted to draw your attention to Juneteenth newly recognized by the University as a holiday, and summarize a bit of its history.
Although the Emancipation Proclamation was made on January 1, 1863, many slaveholders continued keep slaves until well after the announcement. It wasn’t until June 19, 1865, that Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas and U.S. Major General Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3, announcing that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state were free. Juneteenth commemorates that date as the symbolic date representing African-American freedom.
- New Jersey was actually the last northern state to end slavery, 6 months later in December 1865.
- In 2021, Congress passed, and President Biden signed, legislation naming Juneteenth a federal holiday.
- Black Arizonans have celebrated Juneteenth without state or federal recognition of the holiday. It is now a university holiday, although not a Banner-recognized holiday.
A celebration for the University of Arizona's inaugural observance of Juneteenth – Beyond Legacy: Justice and Action in the 21st Century – is June 19, 2023, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Centennial Hall. Reverend Dr. Bernice King, Daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, is a featured speaker. Tickets are required to attend this free community event.