APPLETON, Wis. (WBAY) – Juneteenth is less than two weeks away and many of Wisconsin’s black-led non-profits are gearing up to celebrate leading up to it.
While Juneteenth officially became a federal holiday in 2021, people have been celebrating it much longer.
“We have been celebrating Juneteenth in Appleton with African Heritage Inc. for about 14 years now,” said Laura Jones, the co-chair of the African Heritage Inc. Juneteenth Celebration.
This organization and We All Rise are just two of many non-profits throughout Wisconsin hosting events to commemorate the emancipation of black slaves in the United States.
After the Civil War, on June 19th, 1865, the Union army went to Galveston, Texas to let more than 250,000 enslaved Americans know that they were free.
“Black hostages were told that they were free in the United States of America, but what Juneteenth really represents for black folks and African-Americans is a day where there was progress towards freedom,” said Robin Scott, the executive director of We All Rise.
And Juneteenth is the day to remember that.
African Heritage Inc. in Appleton have chosen to highlight the Omolade Academy as their theme for this years event.
While We All Rise in Green Bay have chosen “black men” as this year’s theme, with the holiday so close to Father’s Day.
“We’ll be able to highlight the beauty of black men and their contributions in so many different ways,” said Scott. “It is not just about their work you know it’s about the ways in which they show up for others in their communities, the ways in which they show up for family and for their children.”
African Heritage Inc. will host their Juneteenth celebration at Jones Park in Appleton from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 9th while We All Rise will host their Juneteenth celebration the following week on June 15th at Joannes Park in Green Bay from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
People can enjoy a parade from We All Rise’s” headquarters to the event and African Heritage Inc. will have a black excellence graduation.
“That’s what I kind of feel like Juneteenth is to me, a big family reunion where we can all gather together and eat good food, support each other, dance, smile,” said Jones.
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