Officially called “Juneteenth National Independence Day,” this is a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in America and is celebrated on June 19th. On this day in 1865, Major General Gordon Granger implemented Pres. Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in the state of Texas as they were one of the last to have received the news the Civil War had ended and slaves had been freed two years previously.
Juneteenth has referred to as “America’s Second Independence Day” and is regarded as the longest-running African-American holiday. Texas initially declared it a holiday in 1938 and with approved legislation in 1979 every state and the District of Columbia has recognized the holiday with commemorative events.
Here are some planned events in New Hampshire:
Keene: (June 16) “Kid Flicks – Celebrating Black Stories.” From 2-3:00 pm at The Showroom on Commercial St. This is a series of short films by the New York International Children’s Film Festival and is recommended for age 9 and older. Come share in the complexity, determination, joy and resilience of being young and Black. Seating is limited with registration required at no cost. https://keeneymca.org/juneteenth
(June 19) From 5-6:20 pm at The Community Kitchen on Mechanic St. will be a free community dinner.
From 6-9:00 pm at Central Square will be musical performances.
Lebanon: (June 18) From 5:30-8:00 pm, the documentary "Shadows Fall North" will be shown at the Lebanon Library Damren Room, 9 East Park St. This documentary portrays the efforts of Valerie Cunningham (coauthor of Black Portsmouth: Three Centuries of African American Heritage) and JerriAnne Boggis, who work to uncover the stories of African Americans nearly lost to history. Refreshments will be provided.
Nashua: (June 19) 1:00 pm in the Soel Sistas restaurant parking lot a celebration will include food, music, local vendors selling items such as plants and T-shirts, artists selling and showcasing their work, and hair braiders. This event is being put on by Nashua residents Kimberly Whittaker and Shewanda Daniels-Williams. Whittaker is looking forward to having not only a day of fun, but to also provide knowledge and understanding on what the day is all about. According to Whittaker, “It’s about freedom. We broke free from the chains of slavery. That was a time when black people … came together to build community amongst each other and for each other, so if people now in this day and age know what it really was and [what] people did, then maybe it will force us to come back together as a people and unite and just be stronger.”
Portsmouth: (June 19) 10:30 am at the African Burying Ground, an African drumming workshop will be held for children and their parents. They will learn about the role drums play in African culture along with dances, rhythms and songs in African life celebrations. The workshop is free, open to the public and no registration is needed.
At 11:00 am “A Time To Praise, A Time To Honor, A Time To Heal,” is a ceremony led by Rev. Robert Thompson, honoring the ancestors who survived in America during and after slavery. An African drumming and dance group, The Akwaaba Ensemble, will perform to honor Black ancestors who lived in slavery and those who were freed from it. Many other events will be taking place along the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire.