2021 Juneteenth Celebration

Posted on by adminbrooks

Join our Racial Justice Group
at the King & Juneteenth Celebration
June 19, 2021

Unfortunately, the MLK Parade scheduled for the morning of Juneteenth (Saturday, June 19th) has been canceled. The previous event has been replaced by the KING & Juneteenth Celebration. This new event will take place at 1:00 pm, Saturday, June 19, 2021, at the World’s Fair Park performance lawn. (next to the Splash Pad)

We are requesting FP Juneteenth Celebrators to please join us in attending this event together. Connect with Brian or Linda at the event to receive your FP Racial Justice Lanyard.
If you would like to help volunteer, we need 4 people to assist with seating and programs. We are asking volunteers to arrive at 12 noon.

If you are interested in volunteering contact Brian or Linda Brooks at 865-657-1134.

 

 

Here is a full list of other Juneteenth Events happening in our area:

(From the Knoxnews.com website.)

  • New Emancipation Exhibit & Juneteenth Memorial Tribute: Hosted by the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, this special exhibit and lighting event will take place Saturday at 10 a.m. on the Beck Center lawn, 927 Dandridge Ave.

  • King & Juneteenth Celebration at World’s Fair Park: On June 19 at 1 p.m., the MLK Commission and the Beck Cultural Exchange Center will hold a free Juneteenth Celebration at the World’s Fair Park Festival Lawn, 525 Henley St. Rev. Daryl Arnold from Overcoming Believers Church will be the keynote speaker. The Carpetbag Theatre will be performing an excerpt from their production COVID Stories: “When the Hugs Went Away.” Knoxville’s Poet Laureate Rhea Carmon will also make an appearance along with several other stage performers.

  • Green McAdoo Cultural Center’s Juneteenth Celebration in Clinton: This event will begin with a morning prayer breakfast at 9:40 a.m. at 101 School St. in Clinton, followed by a day of games, live music, food and a movie on the lawn. This event is free and for all ages. Parking will be available at Asbury Church, Mt. Sanai Church and the Clinton football fields.

  • Juneteenth Day of Liberation & Liberation March @ Knoxville College: This event takes place on the grounds of Knoxville College from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Enjoy artists, music, food, and guest speakers in this evening celebration. Admission is free at the Knoxville College Drive campus.

Information about Juneteenth:

(from https://juneteenth.com/history/)

Juneteenth is the oldest of all African American celebrations. It commemorates the day of June 19, 1865, when African Americans in Texas first learned of their freedom from slavery under the Emancipation Proclamation, signed by President Lincoln and which had gone into effect on January 1, 1863, nearly two and a half years earlier. On June 19, 1865, two months and a week after Lee’s surrender to Grant at Appomattox, federal troops under the command of Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed the slaves of their freedom by reading General Order #3, which stated:

The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.

By June 19, 1866, only one year later, large festive celebrations were begun and many continued into the twentieth century. June 19th early was named Juneteenth, and it has been observed as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day by African Americans for more than 140 years. Celebrations have included parades, picnics, dancing, sporting events, music, plays, recounting of stories by former slaves, inspirational speeches, reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, and prayer services. The observance spread all over the United States during the next 140 years; and fourteen states today list Juneteenth as an official holiday, including Texas, California, New York, New Jersey, and Alaska. It is observed in other states and in other countries.

 

 

Upcoming Racial Justice Small Groups dates to remember

  • May 22, 2021 @10:30am – Racial Justice Small Group Meeting
  • 6/5/21 – Meeting Saturday Morning 10:30am – 12 noon
    (F    inal preparations for Juneteenth event)
  • June 19, 2021 @ 1:00pm – Worlds Fair Park
  • July 24, 2021 @ 10:30am – Racial Justice Small Group Meeting
  • 2nd week in August – 8th of August Event (TBA)
  • September 25-26, 2021 – Hola Festival with Promesa de Fe.