Juneteenth celebration a time of joy, reflection, unity
Imagine the excitement former Texan slaves had on June 19, 1865 when they were told by Major General Gordon Granger they had been freed. Could this really be happening for them? Indeed it was. There was a celebration then and 158 years later, Americans are continuing in that celebration.
Tina Royal said, “Juneteenth is a time for Black Americans to rise up in unity, resilience, solidarity and celebrate the culture of the Black community. Reflect on our ancestral roots and join together with everyone to celebrate freedom, break those chains and bondages that overcome our communities and stand up and grow our communities and be proud to celebrate the freedom that generations before us fought so hard to secure. We are celebrating this year with the theme: We are History in the Making.”
The city of Lexington will join various other localities around the United States in celebrating this joyous historical occasion. The event will be held Saturday, June 17, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the city of Lexington employee parking lot at the corner of 2nd & 3rd streets and Greensboro St. in Lexington. The History Tour Walk will begin at 10 a.m. at the Lexington City Cemetery (Slave gravesite), State St. and the celebration at the Juneteenth event location will kick off at 10:30 a.m.
*Parking for the event is available in the Davidson County parking deck on the 3rd St. entrance.
Royal further stated, “Juneteenth will have the same joyous celebration and history information as we have done in the past three years. Our first Juneteenth was set to kick off in June 2020, but due to the pandemic we were unable to host the celebration, but we were able to hold a history tour walk in the Parkertown community. We began the walk at the site of the old Charles England Elementary School [Dunbar School] location and continued on Smith Avenue to Dixie Street and ended the walk on Holt Street near the old Morrison & Studevent Funeral Home, where landmarks and historical sites were shown and described by our tour leader Dr. Arnetta Beverly.”
Shantel Norman, who has some wonderful events planned for Juneteenth, offered, "Juneteenth celebrations offer a unique opportunity for us to honor and commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. The holiday holds a special significance for African Americans, marking the day when news of emancipation finally reached Texas, the last Confederate state to receive the news. By celebrating Juneteenth in Lexington, we can come together as a community and show our support for those who have fought for freedom and equality throughout our nation's history. We can use this moment to educate ourselves and our children about the ongoing struggle for justice and the important role that African Americans have played in shaping our society. Let's make our Juneteenth celebrations a time of joy, reflection and unity for all who call Lexington home."
Norman and Royal both have amazing lineups. Royal added, “We are excited about the event lineup and many different vendors. We will have live music from Ken Davis and Ken Kessee, motivational speech will be presented by Cedarian Only Truth Productions will also bring us motivational and history information and actress and spoken word poet Angela Ray, as well as children’s activities, music, food and more.”
Norman will be hosting the Juneteenth Black Box Comedy Show June 16. Special guest comedians are Comedian An-G, King Tutt and Sista Big Bone. The show starts at 7 p.m. at Bull City Cider Works. There will be an after-party comedy show from 8 -11 p.m. The celebration continues June 17 and June 18. On June 17, there will be a Concert Celebration event at the Breeden Insurance Amphitheater with live music, live DJs, food, vendors and live performances. African attire is encouraged. On June 18, from 2 - 8 p.m., Norman is hosting a Jubilee Day Cookout. It's free for the entire family. Bring a grill, food, chairs, tents, etc. There will be cornhole, card games, Dominoes, a bounce house and live DJs taking place at the A & M Memorial Park (210 Wilfred Ave.) in Lexington.
Come one, come all and help celebrate this monumental day in history. Organizers hope the community takes away “the sense that we are COMMUNITY and UNITY is our focus for us to continue to grow stronger together to make our lives better. We want people from all demographics to come together to celebrate Juneteenth. Juneteenth is an important day in history. It is the oldest national celebrated commemoration of ending slavery in the United States. In Galveston, Texas, June 19, 1865 the Union soldiers, led by General Gordon Granger, arrived to announce that the Civil War was over and all enslaved persons were declared free, the Emancipation Proclamation had been made two years prior to the Union soldiers arriving signed by President Abraham Lincoln.”
