The Cost of Miscommunication: Juneteenth and Communication Technology

Juneteenth, now observed as a federal holiday, marks a pivotal moment in American history. On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of slavery, more than two years after President Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation. For thousands of enslaved people in Texas, this was the first time they learned they were legally free. The delay wasn’t due to confusion about the law, but rather a breakdown in communication. Whether caused by the slow speed of 19th-century information networks, deliberate suppression by local authorities, or a combination of both, the result was a tragic disconnect between lawmakers’ policy and the people’s reality. Juneteenth reminds us that when critical information is delayed or withheld, the consequences can be drastic.  

Before the telegraph was widely used throughout the United States, specifically in rural areas, and long before the internet or smartphones existed, messages could take weeks or months to reach their intended audience. And so, while the heart of Juneteenth is about freedom realized; it's also a demonstration of how important communication can be in the cause of progress and justice. While the enslaved people of Texas were legally free on paper, lack of access to that information kept their lives unchanged for years. The cost of miscommunication, or no communication at all, was paid by those who could least afford it. 

Today, we live and work in a world transformed by rapid, digital communication. Capitol Technology University began as a correspondence school founded by a Navy veteran and radio engineer who understood the crucial relationship between communication and technology. Now, Capitol Tech’s students explore disciplines like cybersecurity, information systems, data science, and artificial intelligence to learn how information is transmitted, protected, and accessed across the globe. In this environment, timely, accurate, and secure communication is just as important as it was over 150 years ago. 

This lesson we take from the history of Juneteenth serves as a powerful reminder that even in a technology-forward society, efficiency isn’t always enough: information must also be accessible, accurate, responsibly shared, and equitable for all. As we educate the next generation of engineers and innovators, we seek to honor and carry forward that responsibility. 

Written by Juliana Walter