People participating in Juneteenth celebrations
Alexis Reyes
Juneteenth commemorates the event on June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers freed more than 250,000 slaves across Texas. This was about two years after President Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves in the United States. After this, black people began to celebrate this day, but the press coverage of this holiday was largely unrecognized. For decades, the holiday has been celebrated by African Americans across the country, but Juneteenth is a holiday that has become more recognized since it became a federally recognized holiday in 2021. Even before it was federally recognized, people continued to hold events and traditions celebrating the emancipation of slaves. Milwaukee has been a leader in celebrating Juneteenth, bringing together the black community and providing opportunities for celebration and education even before it was recognized as a federal holiday. Here are some traditions you can join in with your friends and family, as well as some local events you can attend.
tradition
1. Eat red foods
Red foods represent the blood of captive black people and the perseverance of black people in slavery. Red is also often used in cooking traditional black dishes, such as adding red peppers when making collard greens or adding red beans and rice. Traditional red foods include red velvet cake, watermelon, barbecue, and strawberries.
2. Community and family gatherings
Juneteenth typically involves a barbecue, some sort of feast, or a parade, and it not only strengthens Black communities by coming together and celebrating the resilience of our ancestors, but also allows the community to learn about parts of our history that have remained in the shadows for so long.
3. Activism
Many events are used not only for celebration, but also to continue efforts to achieve racial justice and social reform. Events are often used to raise awareness of the struggles of other disenfranchised groups in America.
event
1. ABHM Presents: Juneteenth
June 18th – June 22nd, 2024
American Black Holocaust Museum
401 W. North Avenue,
2. Milwaukee Juneteenth Festival
June 19, 2024
Northcott Neighborhood House,
2460 N. 6th Street, 9 a.m.
3. Milwaukee Juneteenth Photowalk
Peace Park and Gardens,
W Locust Street, 7:00am – 2:00pm
4. Juneteenth Community Cookout at Villa Terrace
June 19, 2024
2220 N. Terrace Ave., 1 a.m. to 2 p.m.
5. Milwaukee Juneteenth Gospel Festival
June 22, 2024
1190 N. 70th Street, 12pm-6pm
