Dr. chris bijoux, a nationally renowned race scholar, senior fellow at Georgetown University and senior leadership team member for the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform, recently visited QCC for a presentation on the history of Juneteenth and how this ties into the current state of racial discourse in America.
Bijoux told the story of freedom that finally came to hundreds of thousands of enslaved people in Texas on June 19, 1863, over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had gone into effect. While the holiday has been celebrated since 1866, Juneteenth became an official federal holiday in 2021.
For many, bijoux said, holidays commemorating racial justice milestones provide rare moments of respite and reflection. These occasions should also serve as opportunities to remember our shared history and global connectivity and continue conversations about race, even when uncomfortable. He reminded attendees that such open dialogues were impossible just decades ago, highlighting the progress made since the 1960s.
"It's about honoring history, but also moving forward and trying to leave the world a little better," bijoux said.
As we try to leave the world a better place, we should acknowledge that there is still work to be done. According to Dr. bijoux, over 1,100 pieces of anti-DEI legislation have been introduced since January 2023, which makes these conversations about race critical to continue. He pointed out the disparities in areas such as education, criminal justice and housing, many of which occur in our own neighborhoods in Massachusetts.
Putting these thoughts into practice, bijoux guided participants through a powerful discussion activity in which people from differing backgrounds gathered in small groups to discuss their earliest experiences with racial identity. Partners were encouraged to listen to each other uninterrupted for two minutes. A variety of stories were shared and many connections were made. These are the conversations we shouldn't run from, bijoux said, rather we should elevate these opportunities for learning and connections.