The Philadelphia Juneteenth Family kicked off this year’s Juneteenth celebrations on June 3, 2024, with the official Juneteenth Flag raising. The first Monday in June is designated by the National Juneteenth Organization as the day that the Nation’s Capital (Washington, DC) and all 50 states raise the official Juneteenth Flag and begin the national celebration. This year, the guest of honor and keynote speaker at the flag-raising was Philly’s own former candidate for attorney general, Keir Bradford-Gray, Esq.
Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. It is also known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Juneteenth Independence Day, and Black Independence Day. On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, TX, and announced the end of the Civil War and the end of slavery under General Order #3. Although the Emancipation Proclamation came two-and-a-half years earlier, on January 1, 1863, many enslavers continued to hold enslaved Black people captive after the announcement, and Juneteenth became a symbolic date representing African American freedom.
Upcoming Events
From June 17 through June 19, Philly’s skyline will be emblazoned with the “Garvey Freedom Lights,” featuring the Black Liberation colors of Red, Black & Green. Starting at dusk, the following sites will be Ben Franklin Bridge, Philadelphia International Airport control tower, Parx Casino, Rivers Casino, and Live! Casino, Independence Blue Cross, the PECO Crown Lights, Cira Centre South FMC Tower, Liberty Place One and Two, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Lincoln Financial Field, Wells Fargo Center, Citizens Bank Park, and the Philadelphia Zoo. In addition, the Greater Philadelphia YMCA will join the Garvey Freedom Lights Project at various locations across the city of Philadelphia. So, get your cameras ready! You won’t want to miss this historic tribute!
On Friday, June 21, 2024, the Juneteenth Family, in collaboration with the Philadelphia Art Museum, will once again present “JuneB Black Culture Month” at the great staircase at the Philadelphia Art Museum from 6 pm to 8:30 pm to celebrate Black Music Month, featured artists are “Rashaan Rich and The JuneB All Stars” and International recording artist Shirley Lites, who will entertain the audience with African American, African, and Caribbean music! The June 21st event will emphasize our motto, “One People, One Cause, One Destiny.”
For more information about any of these events please check our Facebook page (@phillyjuneteenthfamily) for additional information.
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