Violence Prevention Institute at Tulane

Happy Juneteenth! We want to take the time to acknowledge and celebrate the ending of slavery in the United States. Although we celebrate the freedom of Black Americans, there is more work to do to ensure equity for all. Slavery might have been abolished in 1865, but this system of control and violence towards Black Americans evolved over the years into Jim Crow, mass incarceration, and police violence.

The United States incarcerates more individuals than any other country in the world with nearly 2 million people in prisons and jails. Louisiana’s incarceration rate is 1,067 per 100,000 people, which is significantly higher than the national average (617 per 100,000 people). Due to structural racism, Black people are overrepresented in Louisiana’s carceral system. Not only are Black people disproportionately impacted by the carceral system, but they are also 2.8 times more likely to experience police violence. To ensure an equitable future for all, these inequities must be addressed at the ideological, institutional, interpersonal, and internalized levels of oppression which contribute to the violence that Black Americans face.

As part of this year’s Juneteenth celebration, enjoy this reading list to continue learning about Black history in the United States and the issues which impact Black communities today. We want to highlight Twisted Garden and Trinity City, graphic comics that the VPI are involved with, which specifically emphasize the importance of storytelling, youth empowerment, and reimagining the world and systems in which we live in.

Enjoy these Juneteenth reads:

If They Come in the Morning: Voices of Resistance by Angela Davis

The End of Policing by Alex Vitale

Futures of Black Radicalism by Gaye Theresa Johnson & Alex Lubin

Becoming Abolitionists: Police, Protests, and the Pursuit of Freedom by Derecka Purnell

African American Poetry: 250 Years of Struggle and Song by Kevin Young

Kindred by Octavia Butler

The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein

A Black Women’s History of the United States by Daina Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross

Generations of systemic inequities, racial discrimination, and disinvestment have intensified gun violence in Black communities. This preventable crisis leaves lasting impacts on countless lives.

We on National Gun Violence Awareness Day to sound the alarm on this injustice. Why do you ?

JCSC, a youth program of the Violence Prevention Institute and Center for Youth Equity at Tulane University, is hosting a youth-centered Field Day Festival on April 18th in New Orleans.

This event was designed by and for young people, with the goal of creating a safe, welcoming space where youth can come together, have fun, and connect with their peers. Recognizing that young people often lack accessible spaces for positive recreation, JCSC is bringing the community together for a day of games, activities, and connection.

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with local organizations, discover community resources, and build meaningful relationships all while enjoying a fun-filled afternoon with friends. This event reflects our commitment to youth safety, empowerment, and community building in New Orleans.

Join us on the Lafitte Greenway by the basketball courts (1891 St. Louis) for a full afternoon of:

Sports & games led by Son of a Saint

Face painting & crafts

Bounce house

Free drinks

& More!

Free. Family-friendly. Come as you are.