Juneteenth is ….
Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, Jubilee Day, Black History, Local History, US History, For Celebrating, For Learning, For Remembering Our Past, Our Stories, Our Ancestry, A Celebration, A Commemoration!
Americans celebrate Independence Day on July 4th when the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, declaring the colonies’ separation from Great Britain. But not all people at the time had reason to celebrate.
President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation ending slavery on January 1, 1863; however, it did not really end slavery until June 19, 1865, when Union troops entered Galveston, Texas freeing more than 250,000 people from slavery by executive decree. Texas was the last state that enslaved people officially gained freedom.
Over the years, Juneteenth has been known by many titles: Emancipation Day, Juneteenth Independence Day, and Jubilee Day, and became a tradition in Black communities throughout the U.S. Though many states have observed Juneteenth as a state holiday, President Biden declared it a Federal Holiday on June 17, 2021.
Celebrate Juneteenth in Orange County, NC:
For some, it's been a family tradition, for others it's a learning experience, and still others, a day of reflection. In any case, Juneteenth is a reason to celebrate! You're invited to come to Orange County and celebrate the importance of this day,
Celebrate the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Juneteenth at the Hargraves Community Center, 216 North Roberson St on June 16th starting at 2pm. Celebrate Black community and culture with live performances, Black-owned small business and non-profit expos, kid’s activities, food trucks, and more.
The Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro proclaimed the observance and commemoration of Juneteenth on June 19, 2020 and encourage residents and employers to recognize the holiday.
Join Orange County, NC for a full day of reflection, empowerment, and celebration. This year’s theme is Embracing our Connections to Land, Body, and Spirit.
The Juneteenth celebration will convene on Friday, June 14th, 2024, at the David Price Farmers' Market Pavilion at 10:00 a.m. for an opening ceremony to honor the legacy of the not-so-distant past and recognize the resiliency of a community that dared to dream of FREEDOM. Acknowledgments and offerings will be led by Beverly Payne of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation and Community Organizer & Advocate, Chris Faison.
In the afternoon, the program will reconvene at the Orange County Public Library from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. for the "Roots & Resilience: The Legacy & Future of Black Farming" program, which will include lunch and a panel discussion with local Black farmers, Kamal Bell of Sankofa Farms, Howard Allen of Faithfull Farms, natural food-way healer Angela Davis of Homeschools of Color, NC, and Black agriculture advocate, Deon Temne.
The program will close with a celebration in the evening at the Eno Arts Mill for a Joyous Celebration from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. The evening will include musical offerings by SHAMBO MEDINA and DJ COMPLEX. The vendor market will consist of the services and offerings of businesses across our community. Resident artists of the Eno Arts Mill will open their studios for community art workshops for all to enjoy. Yagg Sii Tenn and Souls Kitchen will provide meal offerings. There will be many games and activities for youth of all ages!
