By Allie Soisouvanh Price
In January of this year, I began a new chapter in my life when I left San Antonio, Texas, and moved to Washington, DC, to begin a position at Howard University. As a historically Black college and university (HBCU), Howard has shaped generations of African American leaders, thinkers, artists, and activists since its opening in 1867. Working at Howard has deepened my appreciation for African American history, resilience, and contributions to the United States. That appreciation becomes especially meaningful each year as I reflect on Juneteenth. This year’s Juneteenth feels especially meaningful because it is my first time working at an HBCU in my higher education career.
I remember when I first learned about Juneteenth. It was June 2018, and I was still a brand-new counselor in higher education. I had no clue what the significance of the holiday was. One of my African American colleagues explained that Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Texas learned they were free—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued.
I was shocked and disappointed that I had never learned this part of American history in either high school or college. Its lasting impact on the lives of African Americans makes it an essential part of understanding America’s history. After all, African American history is American history.
My reflections on Juneteenth often lead me to think about leaders who called for a deeper understanding of freedom beyond their own communities. One of those leaders is Martin Luther King Jr. As he was leading others in the civil rights movement, he spoke against the Vietnam War and expressed deep compassion toward the people of Vietnam. In his 1967 “Beyond Vietnam” speech, Dr. King urged Americans to recognize the humanity and suffering of the Vietnamese people. His words demonstrated a profound compassion that extended beyond national borders and racial identities.
Dr. King stated, “I ponder the madness of Vietnam and search within myself for ways to understand and respond in compassion, my mind goes constantly to the people of that peninsula. I speak now not of the soldiers of each side, not of the ideologies of the Liberation Front, not of the junta in Saigon, but simply of the people who have been living under the curse of war for almost three continuous decades now. I think of them, too, because it is clear to me that there will be no meaningful solution there until some attempt is made to know them and hear their broken cries.”
I have always admired Dr. King for leading by example and championing racial equality and economic justice through nonviolent civil disobedience. When I learned that he spoke against the Vietnam War and his empathy toward Southeast Asians, I respected him so much more as a leader. As an African American leader during the 1960s, Dr. King faced intense criticism and political risks for challenging racial injustice and speaking against the status quo. I am eternally grateful to him for advocating for Southeast Asians because his strong commitment to human dignity across national and racial boundaries has also shaped how I think about solidarity between African Americans and other communities of color.
The most important aspect of Juneteenth that I reflect heavily on is that freedom movements are never isolated. African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinx Americans, and other communities continue to experience marginalization and barriers to full equality. People of color are continuously fighting for rights and opportunities in this nation they call home.
The fight for freedom in one community often echoes the struggles of others. I maintain that campaigns for equality are connected by shared demands for dignity, justice, and self-determination. There is pain, growth, and beauty in every struggle for liberation out there.
These reflections I have about Juneteenth also have shaped how I think about my own identity as a Southeast Asian American (SEAA). As an SEAA educator at an HBCU, I carry deep gratitude for the generations of African American thinkers, organizers, activists, educators, and students before me. Their struggles reshaped my understanding of justice and humanity, and the country’s understanding of justice and humanity. From the civil rights movement to racial justice to the fight for ethnic studies courses, African American activists have built pathways for people of color to walk through. I firmly believe that many of the rights and opportunities immigrant communities benefit from today came from the civil rights movement and the sacrifices of African American activists.
Even though our histories are distinct, we should not let those differences divide us. Solidarity between SEAA and African American communities is significant because none of us can achieve freedom and justice alone. Solidarity means more than just standing together and supporting each other. Solidarity also means recognizing that our liberation is tied to one another because our struggles and futures are interconnected.
Juneteenth reminds me that freedom is never won by one community alone and that freedom is not merely a historical achievement but an ongoing responsibility. The struggles and achievements of African Americans have transformed the United States and created opportunities for countless others, including immigrant communities like my own. Both our communities carry legacies of resilience, survival, and the ongoing fight for dignity and respect. That history calls us not only to remember, but also to act. We must come together to build solidarity across differences and continue the unfinished work of justice.
I honor Juneteenth with gratitude, reflection, and commitment, and I remain dedicated to carrying its lessons forward to others in the future.
Allie Soisouvanh Price is a proud daughter of Lao refugees. She is passionate about connecting to her Lao roots and sharing with the world about her parents’ home country of Laos. She is currently a higher education professional residing in Washington DC. She splits her time between both Washington DC and Texas. She participated in the 2025 SEARAC LAT program under the Education cohort. If it wasn’t for undergraduate and graduate degrees, she wouldn’t be where she is right now. She believes firmly that education opens up so many opportunities. Her goals include advocating for students of color and pushing for more funding for students in colleges and universities. When she is not busy bettering students’ lives, she is spending time with family and friends, being a world traveler, and enjoying life to the fullest. Feel free to see her latest adventures on her Instagram @a.phouthavong!