'All people should celebrate Juneteenth': How Cincinnatians are celebrating the holiday

On June 19, Americans across the country will celebrate Juneteenth, a holiday that celebrates the Emancipation Proclamation in the United States.

The celebration this year comes amid protests across the nation against systemic racism, police brutality and the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis.

“I remember the first time I heard about it (Juneteenth) while on a trip to Texas. They were like, 'Have you hear of this?'" said Lydia Morgan, founder of Cincinnati's annual Juneteenth celebration. "This was so common place to them, my friend said, 'We celebrate our freedom. You guys don’t celebrate your freedom?'”

Juneteenth is usually celebrated in Cincinnati in Eden Park with food, live music, a flag parade, barbecues and lessons on the history of slavery and Black people in America.

This year's annual event in Cincinnati was moved virtually due to the pandemic but people still plan to celebrate.

Here's what you should know about Juneteenth:

What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers, led by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the war had ended and that enslaved people were now free. This was 2 1/2 years after President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which had become official Jan. 1, 1863. The 13th Amendment, which was ratified in 1865, freed enslaved people everywhere in the U.S. 

State Rep. Juanita Brent (D-Cleveland) introduced a resolution to Congress to make Juneteenth a federal holiday moving forward. 

“This country was built off of the free labor of enslaved African Americans from the construction of the White House, to bridges and roads. As we prepare to observe Juneteenth this year, it is vital that people can properly celebrate America’s history,” Rep. Brent said in a press release. “This holiday has long been recognized by 45 states and the District of Columbia. It is time for the nation to collectively observe the significance of the emancipation of our enslaved ancestors.”

Why did it take so long for the news to get to Texas?

There is no reason for 2 1/2-year delay in letting Texas know about the abolition of slavery, according to Juneteenth.com. The historical site states that some reports say a messenger was murdered on his way to Texas with the news, while others believe that the news was withheld deliberately by the enslavers. 

The slave owners were placed with the responsibility of letting their slaves know about the news, and some delayed relaying the information until after the harvest, Henry Louis Gates said in an article originally posted on The Root.

Where does the name 'Juneteenth' come from?

Juneteenth is a combination of "June" and "nineteenth," in honor of the day that Granger announced the abolition of slavery in Texas. Juneteenth is also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day.

History of Juneteenth celebrations in Cincinnati

Juneteenth will be different this year.

The Cincinnati Juneteenth celebration traditionally begins with a flag parade displaying around 70 flags that represent African countries where people were captured and enslaved as well as the countries to which they were transported during the 300+ years of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

“It’s just heartwarming, it makes you feel good, it makes you feel like you’re at a family reunion,” Morgan said.

The 71-year-old has organized the Juneteenth celebration since 1988. Before then, Morgan said Cincinnati did not have an official Juneteenth gathering.

In past years, Cincinnati Juneteenth had farm animals from Sunrock Farm as well as live performances, bake-offs and special Juneteenth food like Hoppin John' and Hotwater Cornbread.

Virtual Juneteenth this year will include a virtual concert on Juneteenth and another one on Father's Day. The concerts will include performances from many of the original artists as well as ads from vendors and history about America. There are hashtags #JuneteenthFoodsForThought and #Goodeats where people can share Juneteenth recipes and celebrations with one another. Organizers encourage people to use these hashtags while celebrating in Cincinnati.

How to watch and participate in the Cincinnati celebration

The Virtual Juneteenth Festival will stream on Vimeo, YouTube as well as some cable channels during certain times.

What other ways are people celebrating Juneteenth in Cincinnati?

There will be a Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday at City Hall. Masks and social distancing are encouraged.

Cincinnati is also getting a "Black Lives Matter" mural in front of City Hall. Seventeen artists will begin painting the street mural on Wednesday and the mural will be officially unveiled at 2 p.m. Friday.

Take a look:Plan for Cincinnati's 'Black Lives Matter' mural in front of City Hall

Check this out:Here is a list of the companies observing Juneteenth this year

A Juneteenth Cookout Celebration will be held at Inwood Park to celebrate, "how far we’ve come and a recognition of how far we have to go for equality and freedom!" The barbecue will have speakers, musical performances, voter registration, games and activities for children as well as a vigil and moment of silence for people who have died.

A Juneteenth Wake invites people "to bring flowers to pay respects in memory of the lives risked and lost in the pursuit of freedom from American slavery, across the Ohio River." The wake will be at East Mehring Way, near Smale Park, directly south of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Masks and social distancing are encouraged.

"All people should celebrate Juneteenth," Morgan said. "There's a lot of important issues that are still going on that are the legacy of slavery and freedom."

Do you know of other Juneteenth celebrations in Cincinnati? Is it your first time celebrating the holiday? Reach out to Briana Rice at brice@enquirer.com.