Gainesville to host month-long events honoring Florida’s Emancipation Day and Juneteenth

The month-long "Journey to Juneteenth" will be once again sponsored by the city of Gainesville to educate the community about Florida's Emancipation Day and the Juneteenth holiday.

City officials excited about celebration

“I’m excited for what the city, the community and our neighbors have put together,” said Zeriah Folston, director of the city of Gainesville Office of Equity and Inclusion. “We are one of the only cities to my knowledge that’s doing what we’re doing. We will be recognizing Florida’s own Emancipation Day as well as June 19.”

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What is Emancipation Day?

Florida’s Emancipation Day is May 20. It was recognized when Union Brigadier Gen. Edward M. McCook formally announced President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation in Tallahassee on May 20,1865.

A month later on June 19, Union Gen. Gordon Granger announced the Emancipation Proclamation in Galveston, Texas.

After the news, Black communities widely recognized that day as Juneteenth.

What is the Emancipation Proclamation?

President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, as the nation approached its third year of the Civil War.

The proclamation declared "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free."

Enslaved Africans were finally free two years after Abraham Lincoln signed the historic Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.

Juneteenth recognized as federal holiday

Juneteenth was first recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law.

“Some people only celebrate June 19, which is cool, but Vivian Filer challenged us to embrace May 20,” Folston said. “There are a plethora of events that are cross cultural and all-inclusive.”

Filer, chair of the Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center (CCMCC) in southeast Gainesville, said she is glad that Florida’s Emancipation Day is getting its due recognition.

“It is a wonderful thing that the city of Gainesville is beginning to celebrate the acknowledgment of Florida’s day,” Filer said.

Filer said the CCMCC is part of the Florida African American Preservation Network (FAAHPN), which is comprised of museums that strive to preserve Florida’s Black and African Diaspora culture and other related ethnically diverse historic resources globally.

Mission of FAAHPN

Filer said it is the network’s mission to raise awareness about Florida's Emancipation Day nationally.

“I’m proud to be a part of FAAHPN,” Filer said. “We are a network of museums trying to make sure they understand. Gainesville is the leading city to recognize May 20.”

Creation of phrase "Journey to Juneteenth"

Filer said the Journey to Juneteenth phrase was coined by Yvette Carter, and she said this will be the city’s third year hosting the month-long celebration. Carter is the director of government affairs and community relations for the city of Gainesville.

“What we will see is the acknowledgement of the freedom of enslaved people and the traditions we carried on in order to keep up with our heritage,” Filer said. “Our forefathers made sure our traditions were carried over. We had jubilee celebrations from city to city in the late 1800s.”

“I want to invite everyone to ask questions and learn,” Filer said. “This is not a Black event, this is a citizens' event because African American history is American history."

Scheduled Journey to Juneteenth events

Journey to Juneteenth Kickoff

May 19 at 9 a.m. at City Hall Plaza, located at 200 E. University Ave. The event will include reading of Juneteenth proclamation and raising of the Juneteenth flag.

Florida’s Emancipation − Celebrating our Ancestors: Food and fun for the whole family

May 20 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at CCMCC at 837 SE Seventh Ave.

Enstoolment Celebration (ticketed event): African tradition bestowing Queen Mother title upon esteemed women

June 3 from 5-8 p.m. at Best Western Gateway Grand Hotel at 4200 NW 97th Blvd.

History of the Seminole Nation: Contextualizing their rich history with Emancipation Day and Juneteenth

June 4 from 6-9 p.m. at A.Quinn Jones Museum and Cultural Center at 1013 NW Seventh Ave.

Juneteenth Film Festival: Entertainment by locals

June 10 from 5:30-9:30 p.m. at A. Quinn Jones Museum and Cultural Center.

Smooth Flava Gainesville community line dance party

June 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bo Diddley Downtown Community Plaza at 111 E. University Ave.

Storytime at Depot Park

June 15 from 10:30-11 a.m. at Depot Park play area at 874 SE Fourth St.

Juneteenth: Rejoice, Reflect, Remember

June 15 from noon-8 p.m. at Santa Fe College Blount Center at 530 W. University Ave. Th event is a celebration that includes food trucks, arts & crafts, youth activities and a gospel extravaganza at 6 p.m.

Expressions of Freedom

June 16 at 7:30 a.m at CCMCC (ticketed event)

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June 16 at 6 p.m. at Santa Fe College Blount Center at 401 NW Sixth St. (ticketed event)

June 17 from 7-11 a.m. at Depot Park. Freedom Walk: Share the rich history, legacy and resilience of Blacks in America.

Freedom Fest 2023

June 17 from 4-9 p.m. at Bo Diddley Plaza in downtown.

Reaching Back to Move Forward

June 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Alachua County Administration Building at 12 SE Fourth St. The event will include the unveiling of the Sankofa statue honoring the late local historian, professor and community advocate Patricia Hilliard-Nunn, Ph.D. The event will feature drum ensembles and musical performances.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Gainesville once again will host "Journey to Juneteenth" activities