Education as Liberation: A Juneteenth Reflection
Each year, as we honor Juneteenth, the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were finally informed of their freedom, we are reminded of how powerful knowledge truly is. Juneteenth is more than a commemoration of emancipation; it reminds us of the importance of education as a pathway to liberation.
For me, Juneteenth is not only a historical milestone but a call to action. It reminds us that the promise of accessibility is only fulfilled when every individual can pursue the life they deserve. Today, that opportunity is most powerfully unlocked through access to higher education.
The Role of Education in Liberation
Historically, education has always been at the center of liberation. During slavery, it was illegal in many states to teach enslaved people to read and write. Slaveholders knew that literacy led to awareness, and awareness led to resistance. Even after emancipation, the systemic denial of education through underfunded schools, exclusion from higher education institutions, and widespread discrimination created generational barriers that still echo today.
But despite these challenges, historically marginalized communities have always fought for the right to learn. From the establishment of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to today’s first-generation students navigating online learning, the pursuit of education has remained one of the most courageous and liberating acts in our shared history.
At Western Governors University (WGU), we believe in continuing that legacy. We recognize that education is not only a path to a degree, but it’s a path to self-determination.
The Modern Struggle for Educational Access
Although the fight for education no longer takes place in segregated classrooms or through literacy bans, barriers remain. Today, they look like:
Rising tuition and student debt
Rigid academic schedules that don’t accommodate working adults
Technological gaps in underserved communities
Implicit bias in admissions and advising
Limited culturally responsive support systems
At WGU, we’ve built a different model: one aimed at expanding opportunity and recognizing talented individuals wherever they are in life and offering them a pathway to success.
How WGU Meets People Where They Are
Our university was founded on a simple, radical idea: education should be accessible, affordable, and designed for the real lives of real people. That means:
Competency-based learning, so students progress based on what they know, not how many hours they sit in class
Flat-rate tuition, so students can take as many courses as they want during a term for one low cost
Online learning, so geography or work schedules don’t limit access
Personalized support, with mentors and advisors who are invested in each student’s success
These innovations aren’t just convenient, they are liberating. They allow students like the single mother in Milwaukee, the frontline healthcare worker in Minneapolis, or the aspiring teacher on the south side of Chicago to pursue their dreams without sacrificing everything else in their lives.
Stories of Modern Liberation
Every Juneteenth, I think about the stories that don’t make the headlines, stories of resilience and reinvention.
These are the modern stories of liberation. And they are made possible not only by individual determination, but by institutions willing to meet people where they are.
Juneteenth and the Future We Must Build
As we celebrate Juneteenth, we cannot simply look back. We must look forward. Liberation is not a one-time event; it is a lifelong pursuit, renewed in every generation.
We must ask ourselves:
What systems are we still upholding that keep education out of reach?
How can we make higher education not just accessible, but culturally affirming and responsive?
Who do we need to inspire with opportunity and the promise of education?
At WGU, we see Juneteenth as a challenge to radically reimagine the promise of education by expanding access to learners. It means eliminating the structural barriers that keep people out. It means honoring the lived experiences of our students. And it means using our platform to advocate not just for access, but for justice.
A Personal Reflection
As a leader at WGU, I don’t take this mission lightly. I’ve been the student who didn’t always see someone like me in the front of the classroom. I’ve been the young man who wondered if I belonged in positions of leadership. But I’ve also been blessed with mentors, opportunities, and institutions that believed in my potential, and I’m committed to paying that forward.
On this Juneteenth, I invite all of us to do more than reflect. Let’s act. Let’s give someone the gift of education. Let’s support policies that expand access. Let’s fund scholarships, volunteer our time, share resources, and speak out.
Because every time a student earns a degree, gains a skill, or discovers their voice, we don’t just celebrate individual achievement. We celebrate freedom. We celebrate progress. We celebrate Juneteenth.
