Juneteenth is the commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. The origins of the commemoration date back to June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, first heard that the Civil War had ended and they were free, the June 19, 1865 date was more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation and two months after General Robert E. Lee surrendered his army to General Ulysses S. Grant, but, due to the lack of Union soldiers in Texas to enforce emancipation, enslaved African Americans were still held in bondage. That changed on June 19th, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger entered Texas with a force large enough to enforce the freeing the enslaved.
Juneteenth gets its name from a combination of June and nineteenth and is also known as Black Independence Day, Juneteenth Independence Day, and Emancipation Day. Juneteenth is celebrated across the nation and previous event included parades, live music, and live speakers that sought to educate, empower, and entertain celebrants. On June 17th, 2020, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared June 19th a state holiday.
Below is a list of events and resources related to the Juneteenth commemoration:
Resources
Juneteenth NYC
https://www.juneteenthny.com/
Juneteenth World Wide Celebration
http://www.juneteenth.com/
National Museum of African American History and Culture- The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth
https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog-post/historical-legacy-juneteenth(link is external)
National Museum of African American History and Culture- Celebrating Juneteenth
https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog-post/celebrating-juneteenth
Texas State Library and Archives Commission- Texas Remembers Juneteenth
https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ref/abouttx/juneteenth.html(link is external)
Texas State Historical Association- Juneteenth
https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/lkj01
Events:
Annual Juneteenth Cultural Festival
Thursday, June 15, 2023
6:00pm
African American Museum of Nassau County
In-Person Event
Registration Required
More information: https://www.blacklegacypartnersllc.com/events
Juneteenth Weekend at the Ten Broeck Mansion
Friday, June 16, 2023 to Sunday, June 18, 2023
Ten Broeck Mansion
In-Person Event
More information: https://tenbroeckmansion.org/upcoming-events/
Honoring Juneteenth at Genesee Country Village & Museum
Saturday, June 17, 2023
10:00am
Genesee Country Village & Museum
In-Person Event
More information: https://www.iloveny.com/event/honoring-juneteenth-at-genesee-country-village-%26-museum/64606/
Juneteenth: Our Country's Newest Federal Holiday
Saturday, June 17, 2023
11:00am
Hadley-Lake Luzerne Historical Society
In-Person Event
More information: https://www.hlhistory.org/programs-2
Juneteenth Freedom Day Commemoration 2023 at The Myers Residence
Saturday, June 17, 2023
12:00pm
Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence
In-Person Event
More information: https://undergroundrailroadhistory.org/event/juneteenth-in-albany-ny/
Juneteenth - All Around Albany
Saturday, June 17, 2023
Underground Railroad History Project
In-Person Event
More information: https://undergroundrailroadhistory.org/event/juneteenth-in-albany-ny/
Juneteenth Drop-In Program
Saturday, June 17, 2023
12:00pm
Sunken Meadow State Park
In-Person Event
More information: https://parks.ny.gov/events/event.aspx?e=37-35119.0
Juneteenth 2023
Saturday, June 17, 2023
12:00pm
African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region
In-Person Event
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1842618716122231/?acontext=%7B%22ref%22%3A%2252%22%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22[%7B%5C%22surface%5C%22%3A%5C%22share_link%5C%22%2C%5C%22mechanism%5C%22%3A%5C%22share_link%5C%22%2C%5C%22extra_data%5C%22%3A%7B%5C%22invite_link_id%5C%22%3A549620400648376%7D%7D]%22%7D
Juneteenth Celebration at Lewis H Latimer House
Saturday, June 17, 2023
1:30pm
Lewis Latimer House Museum
In-Person Event
More information: https://www.iloveny.com/event/juneteenth-celebration-at-lewis-h-latimer-house/64604/
Colonial Crossroads Juneteenth Concert
Saturday, June 17, 2023
2:00pm
Clermont State Historic Site
In-Person Event
Registration Required
More information: https://parks.ny.gov/events/event.aspx?e=16-35828.0
Juneteeth Weekend at Northport Historical Society and Museum
Saturday, June 17, 2023 to Sunday, June 18, 2023
Northport Historical Society and Museum
In-Person Event
More information: https://www.iloveny.com/event/juneteeth-weekend-at-northport-historical-society-and-museum/64605/
Before Juneteenth: New York’s Reluctance to End Slavery
Sunday, June 18, 2023
2:00pm
Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site
In-Person and Virtual Event
Registration Required
More information: https://parks.ny.gov/events/event.aspx?e=37-35910.0
To a Garden Luxuriously Verdant (Enameled with Countless Flowerings) - A Juneteenth Celebration
Sunday, June 18, 2023
7:00pm
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
In-Person Event
Registration Required
More information: https://www.iloveny.com/event/to-a-garden-luxuriously-verdant-(enameled-with-countless-flowerings)-a-juneteenth-celebration/64607/
Peterboro Freedom Festival: Juneteenth 2023
Sunday, June 18, 2023 to Monday, June 19, 2023
National Abolition Hall of Fame & Museum
In-Person Event
More information: https://www.peterborony.org/events/juneteenth-2023/
Juneteenth Celebration
Monday, June 19, 2023
10:30am
Moreau Lake State Park
In-Person Event
Registration Required
More information: https://parks.ny.gov/events/event.aspx?e=150-36083.0
The History Behind Juneteenth
Monday, June 19, 2023
1:00pm
Grant Cottage
In-Person Event
More information: https://www.grantcottage.org/events
