NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — June 19, 1865, is the day forever marked as Juneteenth or Freedom Day.
Efforts to free enslaved African Americans began on Jan. 1, 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
All persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.
Emancipation Proclamation – President of The United States
Archives from the Smithsonian, National Museum of African American History and Culture mention that on the night before receiving the news of the proclamation, many slaves gathered in churches and private homes waiting and praying to be declared legally free.
From that day on, Black Union soldiers marched onto plantations in the Confederate States to spread the good news of freedom.
The process was not a quick one, as it took two additional years for all enslaved people to learn that they were free.
The official end of slavery came on June 19, 1865, when 2,000 troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas to announce that more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state had been set free.
By 1866, the day became a holiday for celebration beginning in Texas and spreading throughout the country. By 2021, Juneteenth had been officially recognized as a national holiday, ordered by President Joe Biden.
To commemorate the “country’s second Independence Day,” celebrations are held across the country such as parades, parties, empowerment forums, community service events and more.
Below is a list of events happening around the state of Louisiana to commemorate the Juneteenth holiday.
Juneteenth Events
Orleans
- Ignite Foundation: 2nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration — Learn, Contribute, Celebrate
- Harriet Tubman Charter School — 2013 General Meyer Ave., New Orleans
- 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 19
- New Orleans Juneteenth Festival
- Congo Square — 835 North Rampart St., New Orleans
- 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 19
- Music of Movement: A Symphonic Anthology
- Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra – 1010 Common St., Suite 2120 New Orleans
- 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 19
- Tickets can be purchased at the LPO website.
- Juneteenth Afro Beats Gala in New Orleans
- Queen Mama Alaina’s Venue — 5961 Bullard Ave., #5, New Orleans
- 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday, June 19
- Tickets can be purchased at NOLA Krewe of West Africa website.
- Juneteenth Festival hosted by Juan Lafonta
- New Orleans Lakefront
- 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Juneteenth: Mentor Recruitment Mixer
- Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits – 600 Poland Ave. New Orleans
- Wednesday, June 19, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Afro-Cosmic Cacao Ceremony in honor of Juneteenth
- Magnolia Yoga Studio
- Wednesday, June 19, 6:30 p.m.
- More information can be found on the Magnolia Yoga Studio website
- Building Community Power
- Ashé Powerhouse Theater — 1731 Baronne St.
- Wednesday, June 19, 9 a.m.
Jefferson Parish
- Juneteenth Community Crawl
- Wednesday, June 19, 11 a.m.
- More information can be found on the Eventbrite website
St. Bernard Parish
- Juneteenth Celebration of St. Bernard Parish
- Val Riess Park – 1101 Magistrate St., Chalmette
- Wednesday, June 19
St. Tammany Parish
- Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration
- Fuhrmann Auditorium — 317 North Jefferson Ave., Covington
- Wednesday, June 19
Virtual Events
- New Orleans Slave Trade Marker Tour & Audio Guide
- Building Generational Wealth: Empower Your Future Thus Juneteenth
- Wednesday, June 19, 8 p.m.
- More information can be found on Eventbrite website
- Juneteenth Film Screening of Another Slave Narrative, Q&A with Director
- Wednesday, June 19, 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.
- Information can be found on the Eventbrite website
- Juneteenth Spoken Word Open Mic
- Wednesday, June 19, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- More information can be found on the Eventbrite website
Watch WGNO’s Juneteenth Special hosted by LBJ and Christopher Leach airing on Wednesday, June 19 at 6:30 p.m. on WGNO and 9 p.m. on WNOL.
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