By Jayson Henderson

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Academy Award-winning film director and University of Kansas professor Kevin Willmott spoke to the Kansas men’s basketball team about Juneteenth on Wednesday. Willmott emphasized the cost of freedom and the importance of acknowledging past struggles to inform future progress.

“With the rise of social injustice in the United States, we must reflect on the past to address current challenges,” Willmott said. “Juneteenth is a day to remember the pain and struggle, and to think about how we move forward.”

Under Director of Basketball Operations Fred Quartlebaum, Kansas men’s basketball has focused on social justice education. The team has visited the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, and the Underground Railroad Journey. The 2023 Juneteenth event was organized by Quartlebaum and Chris Hughes, Kansas Athletics’ Inclusive Excellence Specialist, with support from KU Leads.