This Sunday, June 19th, is a celebration of freedom to be recognized by all Americans. On June 19, 1865,
more than 2 years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, enslaved Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally received word that they were free from slavery and for the first time recognized as citizens of the United States.
While many Black Americans have celebrated Juneteenth, also known as “Emancipation Day” or the “Day of Freedom,” for decades, the observance only became a national holiday in 2021. The public holiday will be commemorated on Monday June 20, 2022. Juneteenth is also a somber reminder that there is much more work to be done for equity and equality in our nation. As mental health professionals, we see first hand the trauma that people experience as a result of racial injustice and discrimination.
We hope you will take a moment to honor Juneteenth and learn and reflect. You are invited to:
- (Re)watch Louvenia Jackson and Tamela Blolack’s virtual presentation from last year, On the DEI Journey with Cultural Humility in the Art Therapy Profession. This continuing education presentation explores the structural racism rooted in the United State’s history, the importance of practicing cultural humility, and the responsibility of self-reflection in our effort to become a more united nation.
- Explore the DEI Committee’s findings from the 2021 Listening Sessions about integrating DEI into all aspects of our association
- Volunteer through committees and engage in ongoing conversations via the MyAATA forum or at upcoming All Member Meetings and at our in-person conference.