Juneteenth is a holiday that is celebrated on June 19th that commemorates the official emancipation of enslaved Black people in the United States. Though the Emancipation Proclamation declared enslaved people were free in 1862, it was not fully enforced until June 19th, 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas and announced that more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were free by executive decree. This is a joyous day that has been celebrated by Black Americans since the 1800s, but is also a day for all Americans to learn and reflect on this nations history.
Here's a list of multiple celebrations for Juneteenth within Durham:
- The Bull City Juneteenth Parade on Saturday, June 17th at NC Central Campus
- The NC Juneteenth Festival at the Golden Belt Campus.
There are also Community Juneteenth Celebrations like the ones below:
Hayti Juneteenth Celebration - Friday, June 16th at the Hayti Heritage & Historic Lincoln Hospital Site from 3pm to 9pm
Juneteenth Karate Celebration - Friday, June 16th at Carolina Pines Park from 8-10pm. Register here
Bragtown Juneteenth Celebration - Sunday, June 18th at Lakeview Park from 2pm to 7pm
Merrick-Moore Juneteenth Celebration - Sunday June 18th at Merrick-Moore Park from 12pm to 4pm
You can also celebrate Juneteenth by supporting Black-owned businesses and visiting local historic sites to learn more about Black history, which is especially vibrant here in Durham. Learn more at Discover Durham.
Best,
DEI Committee