Community Voices for Health

By Kylie Spiro — Communications Coordinator for BAMSI

June 19^th, or Juneteenth, is a very important day in American history. This holiday is considered the “longest running African American holiday” and is celebrated annually to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States.

While Juneteenth has been celebrated in the U.S., particularly in the South, since the nineteenth century, celebrating Juneteenth recently became more common across the nation after President Joe Biden signed into law a bill that made Juneteenth the 11^th holiday recognized by the federal government.

With Juneteenth just days away, it’s important for us to take a few minutes to remember the history and significance of this holiday.

Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 that Union soldiers reached Galveston, Texas, to announce that the Civil War was over and that all enslaved persons had been declared free – two years after President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

As soon as the following year, festivities were organized in local African American communities to celebrate the significance of the day. The celebrations have since continued year after year – becoming a time to commemorate and highlight the resilience, solidarity, and culture of the Black community. At BAMSI, employees took part in celebrations by gathering to read from the Emancipation Proclamation and General Order No. 3, and shared their reflections. You can watch the video here: bamsi.info/juneteenth.

If you’re interested in taking part in the celebrations, there are plenty of festivals, educational happenings and more taking place throughout Boston during the week of June 19^th.

1. Hyde Park’s ‘Juneteenth Joy’ Celebration. On Saturday, June 15^th from 10am-3pm, the West Fairmount Hill Community Group will host the third annual “Juneteenth Joy: Focus on Freedom.”
2. Embrace Ideas Festival 2024. The four-day festival runs from June 18-21. It features panels, live performances, keynotes, and both local and national leaders in the anti-racism space.
3. Museum of Fine Arts. In honor of Juneteenth, Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, in partnership with Citizens Bank, will offer free admission to all Massachusetts residents on Wednesday, June 19th. Tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
4. 14th Annual Boston Juneteenth Emancipation Observance. The Boston Juneteenth Committee and the National Center of Afro-American Artists (NCAAA) will host the annual observance on Wednesday, June 19^th from Noon-7pm. There will be a flag-raising ceremony and a parade.
5. Eat at a Black-owned restaurant in Boston. Support one of the many Black-owned restaurants throughout the city by stopping by on Juneteenth to grab a bite. There are plenty of cuisines to choose from in all the different Boston neighborhoods.