Juneteenth and the Power of Place
Juneteenth is the national celebration of the end of slavery in the United States. The federal holiday honors June 19, 1865, the date enslaved people in Texas learned they were free, more than two years after the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation.
Honoring this history invites reflection, continued learning, and engagement. At USF, one way that students deepen their understanding of Black history and culture is through the Marshall-Riley Living Learning Community (MRLCC).
The MRLCC, a component of USF’s Black Achievement Success and Engagement Program, offers first- and second-year students the opportunity to live together on campus, explore the historical, intellectual, and political traditions of Black Americans, and engage with the Bay Area Black community through service-learning courses.
Through MRLCC, students further explore Black activism, history, heritage, and legacy during a 10-day Black Heritage Immersion Trip that is philanthropically funded through corporate and foundation support.
To prepare for the trip, students engaged deeply with Black literature, studying the work of Black scholars and critically examining how historical efforts have shaped the present.
The trip visits sacred Black historical sites and communities throughout the Southeast United States. Seeing and being in these historical spaces makes the experiences more tangible and compelling.
“From my very first day at the university, the other students in MRLCC have felt like family,” said Tayana Powell ’29. “Being surrounded by peers who share similar motivations, while also offering diverse perspectives, enriches every aspect of the trip. In particular, nightly discussions and reflections became a cornerstone of the trip, allowing us to process, challenge, and deepen our understanding together.”
Sites visited on the trip included the Emmett Till Statue in Greenwood, Mississippi, the Equal Justice Institute in Montgomery, Alabama, and the Whitney Plantation in Wallace, Louisiana.
For recent graduate Ashton Greene ’26, visiting sites in person and hearing directly from community members created a powerful sense of connection and appreciation.
“From sharing meals and hearing the story behind Hoover’s Grocery from the owner’s perspective, to learning about the dedication and effort it took to help build up Africatown in Mobile, Alabama, each experience added a new layer to my understanding," said Greene. “Seeing that spark in their eyes, whether rooted in pride or struggle, gave me a deeper appreciation of the communities that reflect parts of my own upbringing.”
For Emille Lawrence, senior director of Black Achievement Success and Engagement, that immersive approach is what makes the experience so powerful.
“Every American should learn about the discrimination, as well as the triumphs, experienced by Black people during the early 20th century,” she said.
For Lawrence, the Whitney Plantation left the strongest impression. Now operating as a museum, the plantation recreated structures and preserved artifacts to help tell the story of its past.
“Being there drives home the importance of celebrating Juneteenth. It's a day to commemorate freedom and liberation,” said Lawrence.
Support USF students through initiatives like the BASE Initiative.
