Compiled by CYRIL JOSH BARKER
Amsterdam News Staff
Several events across the city are scheduled to celebrate the Juneteenth holiday this weekend. Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, commemorates the official end of slavery in 1865. Slaves in Texas had not received word that they were free until two and half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. There are several theories as to why the salves in Texas got the news so late.
17th Annual Juneteenth King-Fest Celebration Parade and Street Fair
The Masjid Malcolm Shabazz Mosque and the Martin Luther King, Jr. New York Support Group are joining together for the 17th Annual Juneteenth King-Fest Celebration Parade and Street Fair. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 19 at 11:30 a.m. The parade will start at 116th Street between Lenox and 5th Avenues.
Celebrating Juneteenth: The Celebration of Liberation of the Enslaved Africans
City Council Member Charles Barron, Speaker Christine Quinn and the New York City Council Black Latino & Asian Caucus are presenting Celebrating Juneteenth in the Council Chambers at City Hall on Friday, June 18 at 5:30 p.m.. The theme for the event is Remembering and Honoring the Black Theater and Arts Movement with guest speaker Ruby Dee. For information call (212) 788-9221.
Juneteenth Worship Services
The African American Chamber of Commerce for Westchester and Rockland Counties Inc. will host a Juneteenth worship service on Sunday, June 20. Services will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church located at335 S. 4th Ave in Mount Vernon at 10:30 a.m. and Mount Olivet Baptist Church11 Rev. G. Franklin Wiggins Plaza in Peekskill at10:45 a.m. For information call (914) 699-4749.
Juneteenth Celebration at The Abolitionist Museum
The Abolitionist Museum is hosting its annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 20 at 7 p.m at 227 Duffield St. in Brooklyn. The event will feature Shawne Lee’s spiritual healing performance; Indoda Entsha, West African drumming group directed by E. Preston Riddick; and Michael Hooper of Roots Revisited. Tickets are $10 and include food. For more information log on to www.227abolitionistplace.org.
The Brooklyn Repertory Ensemble Juneteenth Concert
Brooklyn Four Plus One, Inc. will present the Brooklyn Repertory Ensemble on Saturday, June,19 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church located at 619 Lexington Avenue at 54th Street The concert will feature an original composition by Wade Barnes, “From Slavery to Freedom,” as well as compositions by members of the B.R.E. and popular jazz standards. Suggested donation is $10.
Castle Clinton/National Park Service Juneteenth: A Celebration of Liberty
Nicola and Rufus James will lead a presentation of poetry, music and dialogue, commemorating Juneteenth at Castle Clinton National Park in Manhattan’s Battery Park on Saturday, June 19 at 1p.m. For more information called 212-344-7220.
Brownsville Heritage House Juneteenth Celebration
The Brownesville Heritage House will host its 13th annual Juneteenth celebration featuring a slavery exhibit, artwork, poetry and other activities. The vent will take place from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Heritage House is located at 581 Mother Gaston Boulevard in Brooklyn. Admission is free. For information call (718) 385-1111.