Celebrating Juneteenth 2014 in North Carolina

The history of the United States is one with positive and negative acts that makes it’s the country that is known this 21^st century.  One aspect of the country’s history is Juneteenth, that is also known as Juneteenth Independence Day, Freedom Day or Emancipation Day that commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the United States (approximately 1865).  Celebrations for Juneteenth as a state holiday or special day of observance in most states.

Local cities observe the celebration in various ways that include public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, singing traditional Negro Spiritual songs like “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” (Nation Negro Anthem), “Go Down Moses” and readings by African American writers such as Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, Carter G. Woodson and Lorraine Hansberry.  Some celebrations take place in the form of historical reenactments, Juneteenth contests, parades, fairs, cookouts and many other ways.

If you live in North Carolina, here are some events around the state one can participate in to enhance knowledge.

1.      Juneteenth Celebration June 14, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Historical Stagville State Historical site in Durham, NC – (919) 620-0120.  View the NC’s copy of the 13^th Amendment, which formally abolished slavery in 1865.  Other artifacts, tour original 18^th and 19^th century structures, and listen to spirituals as you learn what happens to Stagville in the years after the Civil War.  Event is FREE.

2.      Durham, NC:  Tenth Juneteenth Celebration to be held June 21, 2014 at CCB Plaza, 201 Corcoran Street, Durham, NC (919) 560-4355,

3.      Triad Cultural Arts Juneteenth “Jazz” Festival to be held June 21, 2014 at 5^th Street and MLK, Jr. Drive, Winston-Salem, NC from 4:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.  For more information visit www.triadculturalarts.org or call (336) 757-8556, and

4.      Juneteenth:  Festival of the Carolinas from June 12 – 14, 2014 in Charlotte.  For more information visit http://www.charlottebest.com. 

Again, these are just a few of the events happening in North Carolina but it’s a great time to take your family and learn more about the history of Juneteenth.  Knowledge is powerful.