Annual Juneteenth Celebration
Trend Magazine Online™
Article June 2016

This year′s event will include "The Spirit of Frederick Douglass" by Michael Crutcher on Saturday June 11, 2016, at the Stringfellow Orchards located at 7202 Hwy. 6, in Hitchcock, Texas. Mr. Tim Wise (American anti-racism activist and writer) and Mr. Roland Martin (American journalist and syndicated columnist) were guest speakers last year (2015) and also in attendance was Ms. Ruby Nell Bridges Hall whose now iconic portrait by Norman Rockwell adorns the walls of many of us in the know concerning her integration of the then all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans in 1960. In addition, there will be other re-enactors, a live band, as well as moonwalks and other activities for the young ones. Other area activities will include the Galveston Cajun Crawfish Festival from Friday June 17^th through Sunday June 19^th in the city of Galveston, Texas; a Poetry Slam at the Doyle Convention Center in Texas City, Texas, on Friday June 17^th, a parade beginning at 3 P.M. at Stingaree Stadium in Texas City, followed by a BBQ Cook Off, live music, line dancing/Zydeco, vendors, games, and Car and Ride Show in Rainbow Park in Texas City on Saturday June 18, 2016, and a golf tournament on Monday June 20^th at the Bayou Golf Course in Texas City.

Another long-time area native is 68 year old Vietnam Veteran Mr. James Josey who purchased a building once owned by an "Old lady" and has since converted it into what today is known as the African American Museum which cannot be missed as it is adorned with portraits of some of the area′s most famous Blacks/African-Americans. The artist is E. Herron and depicted on the old home are Mr. Jack Johnson (1908 - 1915 Heavyweight Boxing Champion), Ms. Annie Mae Charles (first Galveston Black female police officer), Mr. Doug Matthews (first Black City [Galveston] Manager in Texas), and the late great R&B (Rhythm and Blues) singer/pianist/conductor/composer of the Love Unlimited Orchestra Mr. Barry White, to name a few. Other famous Galvestonians are Reginald Ballard who played the memorable role of Brah (Brother) Man in the hit series Martin (1992 − 1997) starring comedian-turned-actor Martin Lawrence and Tisha Campbell-Martin, and Ms. Tina Beyonce′-Knowles, entrepreneur and mother of hit maker Beyonce′. The museum has been in operation since 2003 and also part of the annual Juneteenth celebration. My personal fondest memory of the city is that it is mentioned in the movie Jason′s Lyric (1994), starring Allen Payne (Jason) and Jada Pinkett-Smith (Lyric). I really loved the way they pronounced the city′s name in the movie; Texas drawl and awl. Smile!

Mr. Josey, who has lived in Galveston most of his life save a 14-year stay in Compton, CA; comments that "We must let our young know that we have history," and that our "Young people are killing each other over colors. We are trying hard to teach them about true history," and to accomplish that important task they have enlisted the support of American Muslims to come in and speak with those young gang members concerning the pitfalls of violence and drugs. In addition, they recruit prisoners to speak to the kids during their after school program, offer tutoring at the museum, and their motivational speakers draw crowds of 300 to 400 people according to Josey. As a result, he states that there is no more gang-related violence in the city. While living in the Los Angeles area he attended two Juneteenth celebrations and served as an event coordinator. He has three daughters and one son, all currently living in Houston, Texas. I am thankful that he was willing to allow my telephone interview while taking a respite in Las Vegas to "Catch some of the shows," he said.

Another Juneteenth venue in the past has been the Old Central Cultural Center that was established in 1974 to preserve the Central High School building which is the first to open for Blacks/African-Americans (then Colored) in the entire State of Texas in 1885. An annex was added in 1904 to accommodate the Rosenberg Library for Colored (now Black/African-American). The school closed in 1968 as area public schools became integrated as a result of the 1954 Supreme Court case known as Brown versus Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. The school site had been moved to its fourth location in the building that is currently used as the Galveston Independent School District middle school. The original site now includes the Jack Johnson Park which has also been used for previous Juneteenth celebrations. The 501 c (3) center lost its long-time tenant in 2012 and is currently asking for financial assistance from the public. The Board Chair is Mr. George "Pete" Henley.

The city of Charlotte, NC, is in the process of presenting its 19^th Annual Juneteenth celebration at Independence Park just east of Uptown/Downtown/Center City. The four day event will kick off on Thursday June 16, 2016, and culminate with vendors and a concert on Sunday June 19, 2016. Mr. Pape Ndiaye of Senegal West Africa has been heading up the organizing committee for a number of years now. Queen City Tours and Travel will be offering its 18^th Annual QCT Charlotte Pilgrimage Tour^sm on Saturday June 18, 2016, at 10 A.M. and 1:30 P.M. in conjunction with the annual celebration. Each 3-hour tour is scheduled to depart from the 7^th Street Market in Uptown Charlotte with stops at 3 area Slave Cemeteries, and a former Slave Church. Also included are over 50 other sites of Charlotte history from an African-American perspective to include a stop by a home that was bombed during the Civil Rights Movement in the mid 1960′s. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Pilgrimage College Scholarship.


If you are not able to attend one or more of the events mentioned above, visit here for a list of other area celebrations and remember, "Each One, Teach One!."


Want to go? Click to plan an individual visit, or to plan a group visit.




Photos 1 - 6 courtesy of Sam Collins III, 7 courtesy of the African-American Museum, Galveston; 8-9 courtesy of Old Central Cultural Center, and 10 courtesy of Queen City Tours™ and Travel.