This Friday is a day of celebration! It’s Juneteenth!

Juneteenth is also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, as it marks the date the last slaves in the U.S. were freed, though the Emancipation Proclamation took effect on January 1, 1863. A full two and a half years later, slaves in Texas were notified of their freedom. Thus, the Juneteenth observance developed.  It is now one of the most significant observances in Black American culture.

How is it observed?

Juneteenth is something like the Black people’s Independence Day. As a matter of fact, in recent years, more people of African descent have decided to forego celebration of the Fourth of July in favor of Juneteenth. Festivals are held all over the country where participants are reminded of the date’s significance.

Many people observe the date with self-reflection and choosing to be free from whatever is holding them captive.  For instance, this may be the date that someone decides to take steps towards getting out of debt while someone else might choose to forgive someone who’s hurt him in the past. For another, it might be a day of cleaning and getting rid of unneeded items.

Freedom Day is definitely a time of purging, but it also a time to remember that not everything good for you will come directly to you.  It could take some time and more effort than thought to be necessary to obtain pertinent information. So, it is up to us to be diligent in seeking the knowledge which could be the key to our freedom.

Since Juneteenth falls on a weekday, a massive celebration will be held at Snow Hinton Park on Saturday, June 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

(Credit: Facebook/Anthony Lavender)
(Credit: Facebook/Anthony Lavender)
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Organizer Anthony Lavender describes the gathering as a celebration of Black culture and freedom.  He says it is his desire to see the community have a good time without concern for everything else going on in the world.

However, because COVID-19 should still be taken into consideration, use of personal protective equipment is greatly encouraged!

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