Bloomfield College Will Honor Juneteenth As Holiday

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Bloomfield College has become one of the latest institutions in New Jersey to make June 19, otherwise known as “Juneteenth,” an official holiday.

Earlier this week, President Marcheta Evans announced that the school – New Jersey’s only four-year private Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) – will honor Juneteenth Day as a college holiday for all students and employees.

Juneteenth, which is short for June 19th, is a 155-year-old commemoration that celebrates the emancipation of African Americans from slavery in the United States.

• See related article: What Is Juneteenth? (5 Things To Know About The Holiday)

The commemoration at Bloomfield College comes after Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law last month making the third Friday in June a state and public holiday.

“As a New Jersey PBI, and serving as a leader in New Jersey higher education social justice activism, volunteerism and related pursuits, this action is exceedingly fitting for Bloomfield College and the students we serve,” Evans said.

According to administrators, the college has approximately 1,600 students who are predominantly African American (52%) and Hispanic (29%). Most are from Essex County (42%), and from Passaic (10%), Union (8%) and Hudson (6%) counties. The average family income of enrolled Bloomfield College students is $33,000 and more than 94 percent of the College’s students receive some form of financial aid.

More than 35 percent of the college’s students live on campus.

Bloomfield College is also recognized as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and a Minority Serving Institution (MSI).

• See related article: Essex County Fights For Better Future, Racial Justice On 2020 Juneteenth
• See related article: Bloomfield Closes Town Offices To Honor Juneteenth

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