Professor Marc Robinson delivers keynote at CSUSB Juneteenth Symposium
On Thursday June 11, Dr. Marc Robinson, Associate Professor of History, delivered the keynote address at the CSUSB campus Juneteenth commemoration, sponsored by the President’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Board, and held in the Santos Manuel Student Union. In his remarks, Dr. Robinson encouraged the assembly to consider the meaning and importance of how Juneteenth has and should be recognized.
Following the event, Robinson noted, "Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery after the Civil War and it was an honor to give the keynote for CSUSB's event.” He continued, “I am encouraged to see that our university has not shied away from the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion, even though that work has become increasingly taboo in some circles."
In his remarks, Robinson did not avoid challenging topics about the mainstream commemoration of Juneteenth, noting some of the instances in which the meaning of the day seemed to have been lost, such as in the example of WalMart’s short-lived and ill-considered “Juneteenth Ice Cream.” Robinson questioned the wisdom of such cheerful or consumerist celebrations of Juneteenth, suggesting that a more somber remembrance is in order: “less party poppers, and more candlelight vigils; less matching decorative merchandise, and more moments of silence.” But he also acknowledged his experiences speaking with some elders and relatives who wanted to emphasize the positive stories from the past to provide hope for the future.
During his keynote address, Robinson paused and shifted the spotlight to the audience. He prompted them to take a moment to consider the subject at hand, and to speak with a neighbor about how these commemorations should be undertaken, what tone should be adopted, and what aspects of history should be the focus of the day. Finally, he noted the importance of continuing these commemorations even while many Americans resist acknowledging the country’s culpability in its historical crimes. In a spirit of earnest and rigorous inquiry, Robinson provided a keynote that both informed the audience and also expanded the conversation to include them.