Juneteenth Weekend June 18-20

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, is an annual observance of Union soldiers enforcing the Emancipation Proclamation and freeing all remaining slaves in Texas on June 19, 1865—more than two and half years after emancipation had been ordered by President Lincoln. In Galveston, Texas, the newly freed slaves held large public celebrations, laying the base for future Juneteenth activities. The word 'Juneteenth' resulted from the words 'June Nineteenth' being blended in speech.

Today Juneteenth is an opportunity for people to celebrate freedom and equal rights in the United States. Unlike the Fourth of July (1776), it celebrates the day that all Americans were free and independent. It is a state holiday or observance in more than half of the U.S. states and there is a campaign for Juneteenth to become a national holiday or observance throughout the nation.

Yellow Springs will celebrate Juneteenth the weekend of June 18-20, with events sponsored by The Margaret Garner Book Project, Yellow Springs Arts Council, African American Cross-Cultural Works, and the Center for Arts Steering Committee. The celebration also coincides with Antioch College's alumni reunion with a "Race and Justice" theme, World Peace and Prayer Day, and a call from Chief Arvol Looking Horse, Peace Chief of the Lakota Oyate, for prayer that Mother Earth's oil spill (or "bleeding") will stop.

Local Juneteenth weekend events include music, dancing, prayer and a sweet potato pie baking contest—honoring the traditional dessert from the Southern United States. Cash prizes will be awarded for overall best taste, texture and crust: $50 First Place, $25 Second Place, $10 Third Place. To register for the contest, call Betty Felder by June 14 at 767-7486.

Any individuals or groups interested in a public reading of Juneteenth-related works, personal stories, poetry or dramatic performance on Saturday, June 19, at the Little Art Theatre, may call Coordinator Aurelia Blake at 767-9986.

FRIDAY, JUNE18
6:30-10 pm
Nerak Roth Patterson Band Performance
Emporium

7-9 pm
Family Motown Dance and Sweet Potato Pie Baking Contest
John Bryan Community Center

SATURDAY, JUNE 19
2-4 pm
Juneteenth public reading
Little Art Theatre

SUNDAY, JUNE 20
8-9 pm
World Peace and Prayer at Sunset for Mother Earth's oil spill
Ellis Pond