Annual Juneteenth Celebration
Trend Magazine Online™
Article June 2019

Some of this year′s events will include the 27^th Annual Juneteenth Development Corporation Scholarship Gala (409-762-0063) on Sunday June 2^nd, 2019, at 7 PM; the 23^rd Annual Al Edwards Banquet (409-392-0317) at the Old Central Cultural Center on Tuesday, June 4^th, 2019, at 7 PM; 2019 Juneteenth Gospelfest, Greater St. Matthews Baptist Church, Hitchcock, TX, 7:30 PM (409-939-4557); the Central High School Gathering Events (409-457-1795) Wednesday June 12^th through Sunday June 16^th, 2019; the 6^th Annual Juneteenth Gala at Aston Villa, on Thursday June 13, 2019, 7 PM (409-392-0317); The Juneteenth Poetry Slam, Friday June 14, 2019, 7 PM, Dole Convention Center, Texas City, TX (409-939-8102); Greenbook Lecture and Shoebox Luncheon (409-765-3453), Saturday June 15, 2019, 11 AM and 1 PM, at Menard Hall, Galveston, TX; Wednesday June 19, 2019, 40^th Annual Al Edwards' Juneteenth Prayer, 8:30 AM (409-599-5520), and Reedy Chapel A.M.E. Church Annual Juneteenth Emancipation March and Program, 4 PM-6 PM.

Another long-time area native is 69 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 22^nd Annual Juneteenth celebration at Thomas and Commonwealth Avenues just east of Uptown/Downtown/Center City in the Plaza/Midwood Neighborhood. The four day event will kick off on Thursday June 13, 2019, and culminate with vendors and a talent show on Sunday June 16, 2019. 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 21^st Annual QCT Charlotte Pilgrimage Tour^sm on Saturday June 15^th, 2019, at 10 A.M. and 1:30 P.M., and Sunday June 16 ^th at 1:30 PM, in conjunction with the annual celebration. Each 3-hour tour is scheduled to depart from the 7^th Street Public 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 in honor of the late Pastor Jeff Lowrance and Dr. Reginald A. Hawkins.

Finally, the International Civil Rights Museum, Greensboro, NC, will be providing a Heritage and Reflective Exhibit beginning on Monday June 17, 2019, and free chidren's activities on Wednesday June 19, 2019, from 1 PM to 4 PM.

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!."



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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.