Monday, the 19th of June, is Juneteenth, the day that commemorates June 19, 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, TX were informed by Union soldiers that slavery was legally over, months after the end of the Civil War and more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by Abraham Lincoln. Juneteenth is one of the most widely celebrated emancipation days in the country. It’s officially recognized in 45 states; Maryland became the 43rd state in 2014. Today a conversation about Juneteenth. What’s the historical significance of the day and as we reflect, how does it inform our understanding of slavery and the reconstruction era? What was life like for African Americans as they transitioned from bondage to freedom?
Tom is joined by Dr. Terry Anne Scott; she’s an assistant professor of History at Hood College in Frederick. Also joining are B. Cole and Aisha Pew, entrepreneurs and the owners of the Dovecote Café in Baltimore, and the leaders of Brioxy, a network of innovative people of color who are creating economic opportunity for themselves and others. This weekend they’re hosting a Juneteenth Home and Garden tour in their Reservoir Hill neighborhood.
To find out more about Juneteenth in Baltimore visit bmorejuneteenth.org.
This weekend, June 17-18, Brioxy will host a Juneteenth Reservoir Hill Home & Garden Tour that features more than 30 homes and gardens. There will be music, games, storytelling and shopping. Events start at 11:00 Saturday and Sunday mornings. Tickets are $15 for the weekend.
On Sunday June 18 there’s a free Juneteenth family event at the Hampton National Historic Site in Towson from 1:00-3:00.
The next event in the Gertrude S. William Speaker Series falls on Juneteenth. On June 19, Dr. Takkara Brunson, a history professor at Morgan State University, will discuss the meaning of Juneteenth in Baltimore. The event starts at 7pm. For tickets and more information click here.
