17 Jun Juneteenth – A Day to Be Unapologetically Black
By MARSHA MITCHELL | Director of Communications
In July of 1852, Frederick Douglass posed the question “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” This speech explored the promise of liberty and how it should be applied equally to all Americans. It also emphasized that American slavery and American freedom is a shared history and that the actions of ordinary men and women, demanding freedom, would transform our nation.
America’s newest federal holiday, Juneteenth will be celebrated this year on Monday, June 19th. It is the commemoration of the day when ALL Americans were truly free under the law. “In 1776, the country was freed from the British, but the people were not all free,” said Dee Evans, National Director of Communications for the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation. “June 19, 1865, was actually when the entire country was actually free.”
History
Juneteenth, short for “June Nineteenth,” marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to take control of the state and ensured that all enslaved people were freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation didn’t instantly free any enslaved people. The proclamation only applied to places under Confederate control and not to slave-holding border states or rebel areas already under Union control. It was not until December 6, 1865, that slavery in America was formally abolished with the adoption of the 13th Amendment.
Last year, the U.S. government finally caught up with Black people who have been celebrating the end of slavery via Juneteenth for generations. President Joe Biden established Juneteenth National Independence Day as a federal holiday when he signed the bill, passed by both chambers of Congress on June 17, 2021, into law. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and had 60 co-sponsors. Bipartisan support emerged as lawmakers struggle to overcome divisions still simmering following the murder of George Floyd by police in Minnesota. The Senate approved the bill unanimously; 14 House Republicans — many representing states that were part of the slave-holding Confederacy in the 19th century — opposed the measure.
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Surprisingly, a vast majority of states already recognized Juneteenth as a holiday, and most states hold celebrations. For years, Juneteenth has been a paid holiday for state employees in Texas, New York, Virginia and Washington, and hundreds of companies give workers a day off for Juneteenth. Supporters of the holiday are working hard to make sure Juneteenth doesn’t become monetized and co-opted for marketing purposes–minimizing why the day exists. Major corporations face backlash for attempting to co-opt Juneteenth.
Let the Celebrations Begin
For many, Juneteenth is a day of celebration and reflection. Or as Blavity’s Tiya Cantrell said, “Simply put, Juneteenth is a day to relax, reflect and be unapologetically Black.” Here are a few places where you can do just that:
Compton
A C Bilbrew Library
Tuesday, June 13
4:00pm – 5:00pm
Join us for a special storytime commemorating Juneteenth through books, dance, and an art activity. Juneteenth is a holiday, celebrated annually on June 19, that remembers the day in 1865 when word came to enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, that they were free — two years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
For ages 5 – 12 with a parent or caregiver.
Lancaster
Lancaster City Park
Sunday, June 18 * 10:30am – 6pm
43063 10th Street West Lancaster, CA 93534
Join us Sunday June 18th, 2023, from 10:30am to 6pm PT for the 2nd Annual Lancaster Juneteenth Celebration, a community family reunion. Featuring messages of hope from top Black talent, thought leaders, and change agents from around the community & across Southern California. All in Unity, pledging collective commitment to freedom, liberation, and joy.
Los Angeles
Leimert Park Plaza
4395 Leimert Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90008
Monday, June 19, 2023 * 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Welcome to Cadre’s Juneteenth activation at the Leimert Park Juneteenth Block Party, a celebration of freedom, culture, and community in the heart of Los Angeles! Join us for an extraordinary day of festivities, where we honor the historical significance of Juneteenth while embracing the vibrant spirit of Leimert Park.
Los Angeles
California African American Museum
Sunday, June 18, 2023 * 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Celebrate Juneteenth with this wellness double-header:
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Self Care: Yoga
Move through a 60-minute flow with yoga and meditation teacher Constance Hartwell. No previous experience necessary. Please bring your own yoga mat. Outdoors. All ages. First-come, first-served.
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Sound Bath
Experience the healing possibilities of sound baths with Sol & Sound as they offer a group meditation and sound bath. Outdoors. Please bring your own yoga mat. Outdoors. All ages. First-come, first-served.
CicLAvia
Sunday, June 18 * 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell’s 3rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration & Resource Fair is a free community event that uplifts the impact of Juneteenth and creates a space for redefining what freedom means today. This joyous event includes live performances, food trucks, activities, and access to community and county services. On-site record expungement, mental health services, support with tenant protection and more, will be available. All are welcome to attend.
Pasadena
Jackie Robinson Community Center
June 17, 2023
1020 N Fair Oaks Ave
Come out and experience the fun and excitement as we celebrate Juneteenth in the City of Pasadena at Robinson Park. Juneteenth commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States.
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