SWC News Center

SWC student, Jose Jackson, Reflects on Belonging at Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony

By: Ko Inouye - June 20, 2025

As the Juneteenth flag rose into the sky at Southwestern College (SWC), student speaker Jose Jackson took a moment to reflect on what the day—and the college community—means to him.

“It means belonging,” Jackson stated. “It means belonging to a community on campus with other students, staff, and faculty who look like me, can relate to me, and can understand and support me in strengths or struggles.”

Juneteenth, observed each year on June 19, commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Texas learned of their freedom—two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. For many, it is both a celebration of liberation and a solemn reminder of delayed justice.

At SWC, the Juneteenth Flag Raising has become an annual tradition, recognizing Black history, resilience, and excellence while reaffirming the college’s commitment to equity and inclusion.

For Jackson, the experience at SWC stands apart from his time at other campuses.

“I haven’t experienced that [sense of belonging] at other campuses,” he explained. “But I have found that here.”

As the flag waved above campus, Jackson’s words resonated with the crowd—serving as a reminder that true freedom includes visibility, understanding, and a place to be seen and celebrated.

SWC continues to host events like the Juneteenth Flag Raising to honor the diversity of its student body and ensure every student feels the sense of belonging that Jackson described.