'Freedom and justice.' Here's your complete guide to Louisville's 2023 Juneteenth Jubilee
Juneteenth celebrations are set to expand this summer in Louisville.
New activities have been added to this year's Juneteenth Jubilee Celebration, which takes place from June 10-19 in locations around the city.
Juneteenth, or June 19, commemorates the enforced end of slavery in the United States. While President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, slavery continued until federal troops enforced the end of slavery in Galveston, Texas, in 1865. It was declared a national holiday in 2021 by President Joe Biden.
In Black American culture, Juneteenth has evolved to be a celebration of freedom.
On Tuesday, Mayor Craig Greenberg announced the continuation of last year's Juneteenth celebration theme, "Our Story, America's Glory," which was selected by the Juneteenth Jubilee Commission. Greenberg said the theme is "a call to action" for people to "learn and reflect" on Juneteenth's moment in American history.
"Juneteenth is a holiday for all of us to celebrate because it's about freedom and justice, which we still struggle to provide for everyone in our city and everyone in our country," he said.
Juneteenth Jubilee Commission Chair Wanda Mitchell-Smith said she was grateful the commissioners had planned activities to start a dialogue regarding civil rights, social freedom equality and reaffirm the value of Black lives.
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"By embracing the meaning of Juneteenth, it forces all of us to recognize racial justice challenges both locally and nationally," Mitchell-Smith said.
Greenberg echoed similar sentiments, alluding to Juneteenth's "painful history."
"It's so important to celebrate the strength and resilience Juneteenth represents, as well as the progress we have made," he said.
Greenberg said making progress includes providing increased opportunities for Black entrepreneurs, supporting Black businesses, eliminating food deserts, calling out racism, and providing access to healthcare and affordable housing and education.
"This is especially important today because we're seeing so many states push to erase Black history, which is American history, from their schools and their libraries," he said.
Greenberg mentioned the debate of potential censorship within American schools as some states have introduced legislation that would restrict the ways in which educators can discuss race in classrooms.
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"In Louisville, we're not afraid of Black history. We celebrate Black history because it's our history," he said. "America is strong enough and Louisville is strong enough to have honest conversations about Black history — real history — and those conversations will make all of us stronger."
This year's Juneteenth Jubilee will celebrate African American history and its links to jazz, food and more. Here's a look at some of the events planned for the 2023 Juneteenth Jubilee. A full list of events can be found at juneteenthlou.com.
Amplify Songs of Justice
WHAT: A performance of civil rights songs by composer Jorell Williams and lyrics by Juneteenth Jubilee Commissioner and Councilwoman Paula McCraney, D-7.
WHERE: Kentucky Opera Center for Cultural Health, 708 Magazine St.
WHEN: June 10, 7 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Admission is free, but tickets will be required.
Lean into Louisville's luncheon
WHAT: Office of Equity Director Joi McAtee will host the event, featuring guest speaker Jermaine Fowler, author of “The Humanity Archive: Recovering the Soul of Black History from a Whitewashed American Myth.” Born in Louisville, Fowler is also the host of the history podcast, The Humanity Archive.
WHERE: The Palm Room, 1821 W. Jefferson St.
WHEN: June 14, 11:30 a.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Tickets are $25 per person
Juneteenth Weekend Heritage Experience
WHAT: Featuring "The Fannie Lou Hamer Story." Performed by Mzuri Moyo Aimbaye, the award-winning 90-minute one-woman stage play celebrates an unsung hero who became a catalyst for the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
WHERE: Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, 1701 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.
WHEN: June 17, 7 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: $25, VIP $30. Purchase tickets at Eventbrite.com.
Father's Day and Juneteenth Jazz Brunch
WHAT: Featuring Ansyn Banks Legacy Quintet with guest vocalist Karen Chavis and host Marjorie Marshall
WHERE: Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, 1701 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.
WHEN: June 18, 2 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at kcaah.org.
Let's Talk Bridging the Divide: Load in Nine Times: United States Colored Troops, An Evening with former Kentucky Poet Laureate Frank X Walker
WHAT: Frank X Walker, a Danville, Ky., native, will debut a collection of poems centered on African Americans in Kentucky during the Civil War. Walker will talk about photos and archival documents that provided inspiration for the overall collection. He will also perform some of his poetry.
WHERE: Frazier History Museum, 829 W. Main St.
WHEN: June 19, 6 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: The event is free, but registration with the Frazier History Museum is required.
Reach reporter Leah Hunter at lhunter@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: 2023 Louisville Juneteenth Jubilee Celebration guide
