Last Thursday, the campus closed its doors and classes were not held in recognition of Juneteenth, a significant national holiday that many members of the African-American community celebrate, but many American citizens had never heard of until recently. Former President Joe Biden signed a bill that declared Juneteenth a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, formally recognizing the holiday’s legacy, which extends hundreds of years before it was officially recognized.

While some people may be unfamiliar with Juneteenth, most are familiar with the Emancipation Proclamation. On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared the immediate freedom of enslaved people in the rebellious Southern states. Interestingly, the proclamations purpose was to end slavery only in areas that were not under President Lincoln’s control: the Confederate States. As a result, the Emancipation Proclamation made slavery illegal, but it did not immediately free enslaved people in Southern states until the Union was able to gain control of the area.

In those days, important news was spread by conveying messages between military troops. Yet, there were certain areas where military presence was low, and, thus, communication was slow and scarce. Texas was one such place, regarded by many slave-owning Americans as a “safe haven” to flee from Union troops and still maintain their “property” even after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.

It was not until June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, that the message was finally relayed by General Gordon Granger. On that day, over 250,000 enslaved people were freed in Texas, marking the true beginning of African-American freedom in the United States. Years later, June 19 was celebrated as “Jubilee Day,” which has since become Juneteenth.

Though it only recently became a federal holiday, Texas recognized it as a state holiday as early as 1979, and Black people have been celebrating for over 100 years. It is a day when people come together to remember their heritage and to educate and encourage future generations to hold onto their roots.

Most Juneteenth traditions revolve around music, food and faith, all of which have deep cultural significance for members of the African diaspora. Common foods include barbecued meats, strawberries, watermelon and soul food. Watermelon is especially important as it was one of the few crops newly freed enslaved people could afford to plant and make a profit from. The music and faith practices featured in past Juneteenth traditions were inspired by West African culture and traditions that developed during the enslavement era. In modern celebrations, music and faith are more focused on building community and maintaining connections to the past.

The post The significance of Juneteenth appeared first on Technique.

Last Thursday, the campus closed its doors and classes were not held in recognition of Juneteenth, a significant national holiday that many members of the African-American community celebrate, but many American citizens had never heard of until recently. Former President Joe Biden signed a bill that declared Juneteenth a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, formally recognizing the holiday’s legacy, which extends hundreds of years before it was officially recognized.

While some people may be unfamiliar with Juneteenth, most are familiar with the Emancipation Proclamation. On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared the immediate freedom of enslaved people in the rebellious Southern states. Interestingly, the proclamations purpose was to end slavery only in areas that were not under President Lincoln’s control: the Confederate States. As a result, the Emancipation Proclamation made slavery illegal, but it did not immediately free enslaved people in Southern states until the Union was able to gain control of the area.

In those days, important news was spread by conveying messages between military troops. Yet, there were certain areas where military presence was low, and, thus, communication was slow and scarce. Texas was one such place, regarded by many slave-owning Americans as a “safe haven” to flee from Union troops and still maintain their “property” even after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.

It was not until June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, that the message was finally relayed by General Gordon Granger. On that day, over 250,000 enslaved people were freed in Texas, marking the true beginning of African-American freedom in the United States. Years later, June 19 was celebrated as “Jubilee Day,” which has since become Juneteenth.

Though it only recently became a federal holiday, Texas recognized it as a state holiday as early as 1979, and Black people have been celebrating for over 100 years. It is a day when people come together to remember their heritage and to educate and encourage future generations to hold onto their roots.

Most Juneteenth traditions revolve around music, food and faith, all of which have deep cultural significance for members of the African diaspora. Common foods include barbecued meats, strawberries, watermelon and soul food. Watermelon is especially important as it was one of the few crops newly freed enslaved people could afford to plant and make a profit from. The music and faith practices featured in past Juneteenth traditions were inspired by West African culture and traditions that developed during the enslavement era. In modern celebrations, music and faith are more focused on building community and maintaining connections to the past.

The post The significance of Juneteenth appeared first on Technique.

Last Thursday, the campus closed its doors and classes were not held in recognition of Juneteenth, a significant national holiday that many members of the African-American community celebrate, but many American citizens had never heard of until recently. Former President Joe Biden signed a bill that declared Juneteenth a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, formally recognizing the holiday’s legacy, which extends hundreds of years before it was officially recognized.

While some people may be unfamiliar with Juneteenth, most are familiar with the Emancipation Proclamation. On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared the immediate freedom of enslaved people in the rebellious Southern states. Interestingly, the proclamations purpose was to end slavery only in areas that were not under President Lincoln’s control: the Confederate States. As a result, the Emancipation Proclamation made slavery illegal, but it did not immediately free enslaved people in Southern states until the Union was able to gain control of the area.

In those days, important news was spread by conveying messages between military troops. Yet, there were certain areas where military presence was low, and, thus, communication was slow and scarce. Texas was one such place, regarded by many slave-owning Americans as a “safe haven” to flee from Union troops and still maintain their “property” even after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.

It was not until June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, that the message was finally relayed by General Gordon Granger. On that day, over 250,000 enslaved people were freed in Texas, marking the true beginning of African-American freedom in the United States. Years later, June 19 was celebrated as “Jubilee Day,” which has since become Juneteenth.

Though it only recently became a federal holiday, Texas recognized it as a state holiday as early as 1979, and Black people have been celebrating for over 100 years. It is a day when people come together to remember their heritage and to educate and encourage future generations to hold onto their roots.

Most Juneteenth traditions revolve around music, food and faith, all of which have deep cultural significance for members of the African diaspora. Common foods include barbecued meats, strawberries, watermelon and soul food. Watermelon is especially important as it was one of the few crops newly freed enslaved people could afford to plant and make a profit from. The music and faith practices featured in past Juneteenth traditions were inspired by West African culture and traditions that developed during the enslavement era. In modern celebrations, music and faith are more focused on building community and maintaining connections to the past.

The post The significance of Juneteenth appeared first on Technique.

Last Thursday, the campus closed its doors and classes were not held in recognition of Juneteenth, a significant national holiday that many members of the African-American community celebrate, but many American citizens had never heard of until recently. Former President Joe Biden signed a bill that declared Juneteenth a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, formally recognizing the holiday’s legacy, which extends hundreds of years before it was officially recognized.

While some people may be unfamiliar with Juneteenth, most are familiar with the Emancipation Proclamation. On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared the immediate freedom of enslaved people in the rebellious Southern states. Interestingly, the proclamations purpose was to end slavery only in areas that were not under President Lincoln’s control: the Confederate States. As a result, the Emancipation Proclamation made slavery illegal, but it did not immediately free enslaved people in Southern states until the Union was able to gain control of the area.

In those days, important news was spread by conveying messages between military troops. Yet, there were certain areas where military presence was low, and, thus, communication was slow and scarce. Texas was one such place, regarded by many slave-owning Americans as a “safe haven” to flee from Union troops and still maintain their “property” even after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.

It was not until June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, that the message was finally relayed by General Gordon Granger. On that day, over 250,000 enslaved people were freed in Texas, marking the true beginning of African-American freedom in the United States. Years later, June 19 was celebrated as “Jubilee Day,” which has since become Juneteenth.

Though it only recently became a federal holiday, Texas recognized it as a state holiday as early as 1979, and Black people have been celebrating for over 100 years. It is a day when people come together to remember their heritage and to educate and encourage future generations to hold onto their roots.

Most Juneteenth traditions revolve around music, food and faith, all of which have deep cultural significance for members of the African diaspora. Common foods include barbecued meats, strawberries, watermelon and soul food. Watermelon is especially important as it was one of the few crops newly freed enslaved people could afford to plant and make a profit from. The music and faith practices featured in past Juneteenth traditions were inspired by West African culture and traditions that developed during the enslavement era. In modern celebrations, music and faith are more focused on building community and maintaining connections to the past.

The post The significance of Juneteenth appeared first on Technique.

Last Thursday, the campus closed its doors and classes were not held in recognition of Juneteenth, a significant national holiday that many members of the African-American community celebrate, but many American citizens had never heard of until recently. Former President Joe Biden signed a bill that declared Juneteenth a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, formally recognizing the holiday’s legacy, which extends hundreds of years before it was officially recognized.

While some people may be unfamiliar with Juneteenth, most are familiar with the Emancipation Proclamation. On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared the immediate freedom of enslaved people in the rebellious Southern states. Interestingly, the proclamations purpose was to end slavery only in areas that were not under President Lincoln’s control: the Confederate States. As a result, the Emancipation Proclamation made slavery illegal, but it did not immediately free enslaved people in Southern states until the Union was able to gain control of the area.

In those days, important news was spread by conveying messages between military troops. Yet, there were certain areas where military presence was low, and, thus, communication was slow and scarce. Texas was one such place, regarded by many slave-owning Americans as a “safe haven” to flee from Union troops and still maintain their “property” even after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.

It was not until June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, that the message was finally relayed by General Gordon Granger. On that day, over 250,000 enslaved people were freed in Texas, marking the true beginning of African-American freedom in the United States. Years later, June 19 was celebrated as “Jubilee Day,” which has since become Juneteenth.

Though it only recently became a federal holiday, Texas recognized it as a state holiday as early as 1979, and Black people have been celebrating for over 100 years. It is a day when people come together to remember their heritage and to educate and encourage future generations to hold onto their roots.

Most Juneteenth traditions revolve around music, food and faith, all of which have deep cultural significance for members of the African diaspora. Common foods include barbecued meats, strawberries, watermelon and soul food. Watermelon is especially important as it was one of the few crops newly freed enslaved people could afford to plant and make a profit from. The music and faith practices featured in past Juneteenth traditions were inspired by West African culture and traditions that developed during the enslavement era. In modern celebrations, music and faith are more focused on building community and maintaining connections to the past.

The post The significance of Juneteenth appeared first on Technique.

Last Thursday, the campus closed its doors and classes were not held in recognition of Juneteenth, a significant national holiday that many members of the African-American community celebrate, but many American citizens had never heard of until recently. Former President Joe Biden signed a bill that declared Juneteenth a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, formally recognizing the holiday’s legacy, which extends hundreds of years before it was officially recognized.

While some people may be unfamiliar with Juneteenth, most are familiar with the Emancipation Proclamation. On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared the immediate freedom of enslaved people in the rebellious Southern states. Interestingly, the proclamations purpose was to end slavery only in areas that were not under President Lincoln’s control: the Confederate States. As a result, the Emancipation Proclamation made slavery illegal, but it did not immediately free enslaved people in Southern states until the Union was able to gain control of the area.

In those days, important news was spread by conveying messages between military troops. Yet, there were certain areas where military presence was low, and, thus, communication was slow and scarce. Texas was one such place, regarded by many slave-owning Americans as a “safe haven” to flee from Union troops and still maintain their “property” even after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.

It was not until June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, that the message was finally relayed by General Gordon Granger. On that day, over 250,000 enslaved people were freed in Texas, marking the true beginning of African-American freedom in the United States. Years later, June 19 was celebrated as “Jubilee Day,” which has since become Juneteenth.

Though it only recently became a federal holiday, Texas recognized it as a state holiday as early as 1979, and Black people have been celebrating for over 100 years. It is a day when people come together to remember their heritage and to educate and encourage future generations to hold onto their roots.

Most Juneteenth traditions revolve around music, food and faith, all of which have deep cultural significance for members of the African diaspora. Common foods include barbecued meats, strawberries, watermelon and soul food. Watermelon is especially important as it was one of the few crops newly freed enslaved people could afford to plant and make a profit from. The music and faith practices featured in past Juneteenth traditions were inspired by West African culture and traditions that developed during the enslavement era. In modern celebrations, music and faith are more focused on building community and maintaining connections to the past.

The post The significance of Juneteenth appeared first on Technique.

Last Thursday, the campus closed its doors and classes were not held in recognition of Juneteenth, a significant national holiday that many members of the African-American community celebrate, but many American citizens had never heard of until recently. Former President Joe Biden signed a bill that declared Juneteenth a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, formally recognizing the holiday’s legacy, which extends hundreds of years before it was officially recognized.

While some people may be unfamiliar with Juneteenth, most are familiar with the Emancipation Proclamation. On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared the immediate freedom of enslaved people in the rebellious Southern states. Interestingly, the proclamations purpose was to end slavery only in areas that were not under President Lincoln’s control: the Confederate States. As a result, the Emancipation Proclamation made slavery illegal, but it did not immediately free enslaved people in Southern states until the Union was able to gain control of the area.

In those days, important news was spread by conveying messages between military troops. Yet, there were certain areas where military presence was low, and, thus, communication was slow and scarce. Texas was one such place, regarded by many slave-owning Americans as a “safe haven” to flee from Union troops and still maintain their “property” even after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.

It was not until June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, that the message was finally relayed by General Gordon Granger. On that day, over 250,000 enslaved people were freed in Texas, marking the true beginning of African-American freedom in the United States. Years later, June 19 was celebrated as “Jubilee Day,” which has since become Juneteenth.

Though it only recently became a federal holiday, Texas recognized it as a state holiday as early as 1979, and Black people have been celebrating for over 100 years. It is a day when people come together to remember their heritage and to educate and encourage future generations to hold onto their roots.

Most Juneteenth traditions revolve around music, food and faith, all of which have deep cultural significance for members of the African diaspora. Common foods include barbecued meats, strawberries, watermelon and soul food. Watermelon is especially important as it was one of the few crops newly freed enslaved people could afford to plant and make a profit from. The music and faith practices featured in past Juneteenth traditions were inspired by West African culture and traditions that developed during the enslavement era. In modern celebrations, music and faith are more focused on building community and maintaining connections to the past.

The post The significance of Juneteenth appeared first on Technique.

Last Thursday, the campus closed its doors and classes were not held in recognition of Juneteenth, a significant national holiday that many members of the African-American community celebrate, but many American citizens had never heard of until recently. Former President Joe Biden signed a bill that declared Juneteenth a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, formally recognizing the holiday’s legacy, which extends hundreds of years before it was officially recognized.

While some people may be unfamiliar with Juneteenth, most are familiar with the Emancipation Proclamation. On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared the immediate freedom of enslaved people in the rebellious Southern states. Interestingly, the proclamations purpose was to end slavery only in areas that were not under President Lincoln’s control: the Confederate States. As a result, the Emancipation Proclamation made slavery illegal, but it did not immediately free enslaved people in Southern states until the Union was able to gain control of the area.

In those days, important news was spread by conveying messages between military troops. Yet, there were certain areas where military presence was low, and, thus, communication was slow and scarce. Texas was one such place, regarded by many slave-owning Americans as a “safe haven” to flee from Union troops and still maintain their “property” even after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.

It was not until June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, that the message was finally relayed by General Gordon Granger. On that day, over 250,000 enslaved people were freed in Texas, marking the true beginning of African-American freedom in the United States. Years later, June 19 was celebrated as “Jubilee Day,” which has since become Juneteenth.

Though it only recently became a federal holiday, Texas recognized it as a state holiday as early as 1979, and Black people have been celebrating for over 100 years. It is a day when people come together to remember their heritage and to educate and encourage future generations to hold onto their roots.

Most Juneteenth traditions revolve around music, food and faith, all of which have deep cultural significance for members of the African diaspora. Common foods include barbecued meats, strawberries, watermelon and soul food. Watermelon is especially important as it was one of the few crops newly freed enslaved people could afford to plant and make a profit from. The music and faith practices featured in past Juneteenth traditions were inspired by West African culture and traditions that developed during the enslavement era. In modern celebrations, music and faith are more focused on building community and maintaining connections to the past.

The post The significance of Juneteenth appeared first on Technique.

Children form their perceptions of the world at a young age, which are directly influenced by what they encounter early on. To ensure that a child’s worldview is as well-rounded as possible, it is important to familiarize them with a variety of interests.

A child’s perception of the world can also shape their perceptions of themselves. Oftentimes, children cannot imagine themselves in certain fields or careers simply because they have not been exposed to them. This makes it vital to share information about careers with kids in a useful and engaging way.

GT Little Einsteins Organization (LEO) is a student-run organization that aims to increase children’s exposure to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The organization packages STEM experiment kits, which are then distributed to public libraries and the children who visit them.

The experiments they pack vary — the most recent experiment which they are currently packaging is called “Penny Power” and features different penny experiments. For example, how many drops of water can fit on a penny, and how can a copper penny turn the same color as the Statue of Liberty?

Abigail Cressy, fourth-year BIO, has been a member of LEO since last year and was named co-president in August. When asked how she got involved with the organization, she stated that one of her friends encouraged her to join.

“I’ve always loved working with kids and encouraging science and math with them. I used to be a math tutor in high school, and I had such a fun time with that, so I just love working with them,” Cressy said of her motivation to continue working with LEO.

LEO is a great way for Tech students to get hands-on volunteer experience that reaches outside the bounds of Tech’s campus. The organization prepares over 700 experiment kits per semester to be given to various branches of Fulton County Libraries. 

“It’s an awesome way to give back to the Atlanta community because Fulton County is so big. It spans so far north and south, so that’s a lot of libraries we’re covering,” Cressy said.

LEO also partners with some schools to host events on Saturdays for the students to participate in STEM activities with organization members. 

“It’s just something cool for them to do on Saturday. The basis of it is just getting kids excited about science and feeling like they can see themselves doing science,” Cressy said.

Each week, members gather for an hour to listen to music, eat, and chat with each other before they begin packing the experiments. 

“We divvy it up into an assembly line. We have some people labeling the bags, some cutting up the instructions, and some filling the bags,” Cressy said.

LEO focuses not only on outreach but also on representation. The organization ensures that students are shown all the opportunities they have at their disposal at a young age. Knowledge is an invaluable tool, and LEO gives Jackets the opportunity to empower the next generation.

The post Students in LEO make STEM kits for public libraries appeared first on Technique.

Everyone has played a video game before, whether you have competed in an esports competition or you just beat your high score on Subway Surfers. Games have a way of connecting people by encouraging group cooperation and providing common topics to discuss with people who share the same interests.

RetroTECH is an initiative from the Tech Library focusing on the curation of technological materials with historical significance. Its goal is to connect students with both the future and the past through digital and physical gaming artifacts.

Dillon Henry, a Digital Accessioning Archivist at Tech Library, is in charge of maintaining and growing Tech’s digital and physical media collections. 

“I honestly think some of it is self-evident, as gaming platforms, as well as TV and movie platforms, move to streaming. All of a sudden, [something] was on Netflix, and now it’s not on there anymore,” Henry said on the importance of storing gaming artifacts.

The value of physical media has shifted in recent years as streaming sites have gained popularity. People are more inclined to subscribe to a service for access to media rather than purchase and own it.

Events like retroTECH Game Day give students access to media they would otherwise never have experienced. These events also remind students that libraries are useful for more than studying and checking out books.

“The first time that I went into an archive at a university, I was just blown away by the stuff they had. They had a flyer for a Black Flag concert in the early 1980s, and I was like, ‘Wait, libraries collect this sort of thing?’” Henry stated.

RetroTECH hopes to spread awareness amongst the public about the far-reaching archival work at libraries by bridging the gap between curious students and libraries, like Tech’s, that are rich with resources.

The most recent Game Day retroTECH hosted featured a lineup of three consoles: a Nintendo 64, a Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and a Game Cube. Each console had at least two controllers to allow students the choice of single or multiplayer mode.

Some students who attended the event were unfamiliar with classic games, while others were almost experts. Attending this event allowed everyone to engage not only with the game consoles but also with other students.

About thirty minutes after the event began, students who had never met before were talking and laughing as they bonded over MarioKart and Super Smash Bros. At another table, students were researching combo moves to beat each other in Mortal Kombat.

The bonding power that video games have over people was clear as students came together in competition and camaraderie. Even though these were games that many of the attendee’s parents had played years ago, they still have an impact on gamers today. Games give us an outlet, a safe space to find friends and family and allow us to explore new worlds, past and present.

RetroTECH and Tech’s other library events are great ways for Jackets to learn about the amazing resources we have and to connect with other people.

The post retroTech connects students to the past and each other appeared first on Technique.