By Gloria Dulan-Wilson
Hello All:
2020 marks the 155th Anniversary of Juneteenth and African Americans across the United States are gearing up to commemorate Our Independence Day. While most states in the south and southwest have been celebrating Juneteenth from 1865, it's a relatively recent phenomenon on the East Coast - with the possible exception of Philadelphia, PA, where it's celebrated from the week prior to the actual date. Even with the Coronavirus causing most to practice social distancing plans are quite extensive:
2nd Juneteenth National Freedom Day
2020 marks the 155th year of the celebration of Juneteenth, which was announced in Galveston, TX on June 19, 1865. Philadelphians
have been celebrating Juneteenth annually since 1997, and the popularity has spread exponentially throughout the city since then. In 2018, the Philadelphia Juneteenth Family was formed, to add extra dimension to this celebration of African American liberation
from Slavery. Their theme is “All Things Juneteenth”.
The link provided below will allow you to join June 19th at 4pm EST. https://us02web.zoom.us/
Even in the age of COVID-19, social distancing and quarantine, the ceremonies have already started. The Philadelphia
Juneteenth Family and ACANA are lighting up Philadelphia's landmarks throughout the city in the Liberation Colors of Red, Black and Green. These include:
- PECO Crown Lights: June 14th through June 20th, at 2301 Market Street, can be seen from practically every vantage point in Philadelphia
- Philadelphia International Airport: June 14th through June 20th
- Liberty Place One and Liberty Place Two: June 17th through June 19th
- Benjamin Franklin Bridge: June 18th and 19th
- Boat House Row: June 18th and 19th
- Philadelphia Museum of Art: June 19th
Juneteenth 2020 is the second year that Juneteenth has been a legal holiday in Pennsylvania. It also marks the passage of Bill 619, passed on June 19, 2019, and signed by Governor Tom Wolf, making Pennsylvania
the 47th state to celebrate it as a statewide holiday.
Additionally, there are approximately 140 corporations and businesses that are recognizing Juneteenth as a holiday and are giving their employees the day off to commemorate it.
Families are urged to go out and see this wonderful display of lights and celebrate this historical event and reflect
on the meaning of Juneteenth (just make sure to wear your face masks and take the appropriate precautions).
Kofi Asante, Executive Producer and Artistic Director
will be featured on WCAU Channel 10NBCTV News this evening, June 17th
at 11:00PM
On Friday, June 19th
– “THE JUNETEENTH STORY”
will premiere on Elements Media starting at 9:00AM (Eastern) and continuing throughout the holiday.
Also featured is the original theme song, “No Longer Bound,” composed for Juneteenth by Alfie Pollard Viewers can access it by logging on to: www.Vimeo.com/429420841
Everyone is invited to come out and celebrate this wonderful
epoch-making holiday. ###
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