By Sarah Sever

On June 19, 1865, Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived on the island of Galveston, Texas. His mission was to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all people who were previously slaves were now free. This document had been signed two years earlier but could not be enforced because southern states were still under confederate control. The General marched his troops through the streets of Galveston reading General Order No. 3, transmitting the news of the Emancipation Proclamation to all those who had formerly been slaves. The following year, freedmen in Texas organized a celebration of these events, which became an annual event. Juneteenth gained recognition over the decades and became a federal holiday in 2021.

Neuse Regional Libraries have had the honor of collaborating with local performers to present a Juneteenth program for the past twelve years, with the goal of uniting more and more community members each year. In 2021, we greatly expanded our Juneteenth event and for the first time it was held at the African American Music Trail park. It was a vibrant celebration with hundreds attending to commemorate this landmark occasion in U.S. history.

This year’s festivities will take place this Saturday, June 18th from 4-7 p.m. at the African American Music Trail Park and will include historical readings, music, dancing, and vendors. Everyone is invited to enjoy performances by local talent, which will include long-time Juneteenth organizer Brenda Stewart, Dr. Malcolm Beech Sr., vocalists Olene Solomon and Sandra Fisher, the StageLyfe dance troupe, the Anointed All Stars Gospel Choir, spoken word poet Ill Will and more." Juneteenth celebrates freedom for over four million African American slaves," said Dr. Beech, who serves as Director of the African American Museum and Cultural Center in Kinston.

Juneteenth is sponsored by Kinston-Lenoir County Friends of the Library, the City of Kinston, Lenoir County Government, Lenoir Community College, the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission, the African American Museum and Cultural Center, Community Council for the Arts, the North Carolina Arts Council, and Lenoir County Parks and Recreation. For more information please call (252) 527-7066.