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Juneteenth is officially a federal holiday! And cities and towns across the country are marking the milestone in a variety of ways, from parades to music festivals and cultural exhibits.
On Thursday, June 17, PresidentJoe Bidensigned the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, marking the12th federal holidayin the United States.
While slavery was technically abolished once Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, it took nearly two-and-a-half more years for the law to be enforced in many Confederate states — most notably in Texas, where the last enslaved Americans were freed in 1865.
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Texas became the first state to recognize Juneteenth as an official holiday in 1980. Nearly every other state has since followed suit, recognizing the holiday in some capacity throughout the decades since.
This month, Hawaii and South Dakota became the last two states to recognize Juneteenth as an official holiday.
Below, we’ve rounded up how cities and towns across the country are recognizing and celebrating Juneteenth this year.
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Houston, Texas
The Community Music Center of Houston and Multicultural Education and Counseling Through the Arts are hostinga free concerton Friday, June 18, featuring Black orchestra music.
TheBuffalo Soldiers National Museumis hosting a BLCK Market Juneteenth Celebration, which will highlight small Black businesses.
Primary Paint Party is hosting aJuneteenth Black Art Exhibiton Saturday, June 19.
AndThe Heritage Societyis putting on a Juneteenth Weekend Fun event, featuring tours of historic properties including the Jack Yates House, Kellum-Noble House and the Fourth Ward College in Sam Houston Park.
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Atlanta, Georgia
In 2011, Georgia became the 37th state to recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday. Atlanta, which is the birthplace of numerous civil rights leaders, includingDr. Martin Luther King Jr., is hosting a number of events.
TheJuneteenth Atlanta Parade & Music Festivalwill take place over three days atCentennial Olympic Park. The event will feature musical performances, speakers, a Black History Parade and Rally, African drum and dance, a community artists market, ample food trucks and more.
Dallas Fort-Worth, Texas
Lee, 94, is a lifelong Fort Worth resident and was present when Biden, 78, signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law on Thursday. Lee has dedicated decades to gettingJuneteenthrecognized as a national holiday.
Charleston, South Carolina
A number of events are taking place across Charleston. Middleton Place, a former plantation which now operates as a cultural education attraction and home to America’s oldest landscaped gardens, is hosting aJuneteenth celebrationin honor of the 3000-plus enslaved people who lived on the plantation.
Other events includethe Gullah Juneteenth Freedom Celebrationand the inaugural Juneteenth Freedom Fest.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Los Angeles, California
Among the most notable events in Los Angeles isLeimert Park Rising, a longstanding celebration of Black freedom that takes place over two days. The event is a “celebration of Black liberation built to educate, entertain and activate while featuring art, ideas and performances from local talent,” according to the event’s website.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Brooklyn, New York
New York’s Brownsville community has beenhosting annual Juneteenth celebrationssince 2009. “Each year features a theme that educates the Black community on its history while creatively changing the narrative of the devastating impact of slavery,” according to the Juneteenth NY Organization’s website. This year, the three-day summit will include events both online and in-person. On Saturday, June 19, there will be an in-person celebration at Herbert Von King Park.
source: people.com
