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Event
Juneteenth - 150 Years of Freedom
The 2015 celebration marks the 150th Anniversary of the Juneteenth Celebrations! We are currently in the planning stages for that celebration which shall prove to be the best Juneteenth event here in Alaska!
Juneteenth is a time honored event that can in no way make up for the reason the Emancipation Proclamation became necessary in the first place but it gives us the chance to honor those that have come before us by making sure we do not forget where we came from and at what cost.
Juneteenth is observed in many ways throughout the United States. As of June 2012, the following states are recognizing Juneteenth as a holiday observance: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Juneteenth began as an event to mark the freeing of the last slaves in 1865, which was nearly two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln, January 1, 1863. It took the appearance of General Grainger and his troops to enforce the proclamation for it to be recognized in Texas. We think it is fitting that the oldest celebration is held in Texas. The state of Texas is widely considered the first U.S. state to begin Juneteenth celebrations with informal observances occurring for over a century; it has been an official state holiday since 1980.
The story goes as follows:
On June 19, 1865, the Union General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Tex., to inform inhabitants of the Civil War's end two months earlier. Two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, Granger's General Order Number 3 finally freed the last 250,000 slaves whose bondage, due to the minimal Union presence in the region, had been essentially unaffected by Lincoln's efforts. June 19thwhich was quickly shortened to "Juneteenth" among celebrantshas become the African-American addendum to our national Independence Day!
Here is an overview of the events we have planned:
June 12-13, 2015 we will be hosting a Talent Competition that is open to all types of singers, dancers, spoken word, etc.
June 14, 2015 will be the opening ceremonies for our week-long celebration and takes place at 1st CME Church (3600 McInnes) at 4pm. There will be choirs, speakers and light refreshments.
June 15, 2015 a "What Is Juneteenth" workshop at the BP Energy Building fro 6pm til 9pm. African American history handouts will be made available and light refreshments served.
June 16-17, 2015 we will have presentations on the Nubian Sisterhood and the civil contributions of John Thomas .
June 18, 2015 Doug Wimbish of Wimbash Music Festivals will be at the Den on UAA Campus with a meet & greet and Bass Clinic from 1pm until 5pm.
June 19, 2015 is the Official 150th Anniversary of Juneteenth Celebrations nationwide! We will be at the Fairview Lions Park on 8th & Karluk with bands, dancers, vendors, singers, and more from 10am-8pm. We will also host a boxing competition at the Alaska Boxing Academy from 4pm-9pm with Former Heavyweight Champion Mike Weaver as referee.
June 20, 2015 we will be at the Fairview Lions Park once again from 10am-8pm and will follow up with a Juneteenth Concert Series event - WimBash>>Alaska 2015 - featuring The Freedom Riders - Allan Harris and Doug Wimbish with Jesse Jones Jr. Performing a Musical Celebration of "The Bridge"(hear a sample here http://www.s421164731.initial-website.com/the-bridge-live/) at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus, 9:30pm until 12:30am. Get tickets here - http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1413954
June 21, 2015 is the closing day for our events and it will also be held at 1st CME Church (3600 McInnes) from 4pm until 9pm. Our keynote speaker is the renowned Evangelist Sharon L. Grant. There will be skits and choirs as well as a full fellowship meal served to those in attendance, just as it was at the first Juneteenth Celebration all those years ago.
For full event information and to contact us directly to be a part of the event or just to attend, please go to http://juneteenthak.com. Thank you and we hope to see you there!
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LocationJuneteenth Celebration (View)
1201 E. 8th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Dog Friendly: Yes! |
| Non-Smoking: No |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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