Juneteenth is considered the second Independence Day in the United States.
The Emancipation Proclamation abolished slavery Jan. 1, 1863, but the slaves in the west confederacy states did not know until June 19, 1865, nearly two and a half years later.
Major General Gordon Granger and soldiers rode horseback into Galveston June 19, 1865, to announce General Order No. 3, “...all slaves are free.
And it became an official federal holiday on June 19, 2021, when President Joe Biden signed it into law.
This year, Taylor’s Juneteenth Committee presents a Juneteenth celebration Saturday, June 17 and Monday, June 19.
The Taylor’s Juneteenth Committee has celebrated this holiday since the 80s, “1984 was our first celebration doing the Juneteenth,” said Jennifer Harris, president of the Blackshear/O.L. Price Ex-students’ Association.
“It’s community-wide,” Harris said. “It will be about 100 people.”
On Saturday, from 2 to 10 p.m., there will be a Freedom Festival at Fannie Robinson Park with a gospel fest, live entertainment, children’s activities and more.
The most popular activity is the entertainment according to Harris.
“We have had bands, dance groups, gospel music. It’s all good,” Harris said.
On Monday, there will be a parade at 9 a.m. traveling south from Fifth and Main St., down to MLK Boulevard and to the Dickey-Givens Community Center, E. MLK Jr.
Boulevard in Fannie Robinson Park.
After the parade, there will be a free brunch cookout until about 1 p.m.
For more, call Nakevia Miller 512-417-7334.
