Celebrating Juneteenth

Juneteenth is a cultural celebration by African Americans in the U.S. originally in Texas. Also referred to as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, Juneteenth commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery and emancipation of slaves on June 19, 1865. That’s the day the Union army arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that all African-American slaves in the state were free in accordance with President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. The state was the last in the Confederacy to receive word that the Civil War was over and that slavery had been abolished.

In the spirit of Juneteenth, we celebrate the impact and contributions to tennis by USTA Colorado Hall of Fame Inductees:

Diversity and Inclusion are core values and strategic priorities for USTA Colorado. We reach out to all players, including those of diverse cultural backgrounds, mentally and physically challenged athletes, and under-resourced communities. We celebrate an open format – the idea that anyone from anywhere should be able to play and compete. That’s the driving force behind our Diversity & Inclusion strategy, designed to grow and promote our sport to the next generation – and future generations – of fans, players and volunteers. We are removing barriers and creating opportunities wherever we can so that tennis becomes a true reflection of all of America.