Fairfax County School Board Recognizes Juneteenth
The Fairfax County School Board read a resolution at their June 17 meeting acknowledging the historical significance and importance of Juneteenth.
The resolution states:
The month of June is the time that many in our nation recognize Juneteenth as the holiday that celebrates Emancipation Day. Juneteenth marks a day in 1865 when enslaved Texans learned they would be free—two months after Robert E. Lee surrendered and ended the Civil War and two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. June 19th also marks the day that African Americans in the southern states exercised independence from those who benefitted from their enslavement and labor in the founding of this nation.
The educational institutions of this nation, including Fairfax County Public Schools, have a particular responsibility to recognize the painful realities of our history and to make sure that our curriculum reflects these realities. Working with the community as One Fairfax, this Board is committed to identifying actionable items to improve policies and procedures to enhance access to opportunities to ensure that students, families, and staff do not experience inequities in FCPS.
We value diversity and are united in our opposition to racism and hate. We stand in solidarity with our African American students, educators, staff, and their families. Fairfax County Public Schools hereby officially commemorates Juneteenth as a day to celebrate and emphasize a collective call to action against injustice of any kind.
FCPS students are actively engaged in statewide and local efforts to recognize historical efforts of African Americans in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Recent efforts include establishing historic markers along roadways in Fairfax County and other parts of the state. Read more about the effort here.
