As part of Iowa’s Juneteenth Observance, the oldest known celebration to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States, broadcast journalist Soledad O’Brien will be on campus Thursday, June 14, from 5 to 6 p.m. in Sussman Theater for a question-and-answer session. Tickets are still available. The event will be moderated by KCCI anchor Rheya Spigner.

After the Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863, owners in many isolated areas kept word from their slaves so that they would not flee. On June 19, 1865, some of the last slaves in America were freed when the news at last reached Confederate Galveston, Texas. Since that day, Juneteenth has been celebrated to honor the African Americans who built this nation. View information on all events.

— Kathleen Richardson, School of Journalism and Mass Communication