In Fredrick Douglass’s most famous speech on the hypocrisy of American slavery, he pointed out the paradox of Independence Day: America declared every man had a right to liberty while at the same time enslaving millions of people. More than nine years after this speech, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all slaves in the Southern States freed. The reality of this freedom was not manifest however until the western most Confederate State of Texas was fully secured by the Union Army more than 2 1/2 years later in the early Summer of 1865, on the date of June 19th.

This date further signified the final fall of obstacles to the Ratification of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, 6 months later, which freed the remaining slaves in States that had fought for the Union but had still not outlawed slavery, such as the State of Kentucky. Harkening back to Fredrick Douglass’s criticism of the hypocrisy of Independence Day, June 19th became known as our 2nd Independence Day, or Freedom Day, celebrating the Freedom for all people when there is equity in Justice.

While this date has been celebrated throughout the country since 1865, it did not became a federal holiday in the United States until 2021. The celebration of this date is another step forward in bringing light to the pursuit of the ideals upon which our nation was founded. Locally, there are a number of events celebrating Juneteenth Freedom Day:

Friday, June 13th, the Village of Golf Manor has their 4th Annual Juneteenth Celebration from 4 pm to 9pm at Volunteer Park. Admission is FREE. Family-friendly activities will be freely available. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. You can visit the village website or call (513) 531-7491 for more information.

Saturday, June 20th through Sunday, June 21st, is the 39th Annual Juneteenth Festival in Eden Park. Admission is FREE. The festival hours are noon to 9pm on Saturday, and 2:30 pm through 6pm on Sunday. Activities include the traditional parade of flags representing the African diaspora, family-friendly activities such as horseback riding, education pavilions, historical reenactments and more. The Juneteenth Festival will also offer food, art displays, merchandise vendors and two stages featuring live music. You can visit the event website or call (513) 631-7289 for more information.

On Saturday, June 20th, the 5th Annual Cincinnati Official Juneteenth Parade joins forces with the Juneteenth Festival for a powerful Parade of Flags experience starting at 11 AM. The parade will be held in Eden Park (with participant arrival at 10:30 AM). The parade will feature vibrant displays of culture, honoring the African Diaspora with over 75 flags representing nations touched by the Transatlantic Slave Trade. You can register to participate or visit the event website for more information, or call (513) 813-0662.

On Sunday, June 21st, Findlay Market will host the Juneteenth Jubilee from 10 AM to 4 PM, celebrating the cuisines of Findlay Market’s various Black-owned businesses. You’ll be able to sample several special dishes that tie back to the history and importance of Juneteenth. You can register or purchase tickets on the event website or call (513) 665-4839 for more information.

So there are lots of opportunities throughout the weekend to celebrate Juneteenth Freedom Day. You can find resources related to diversity and inclusion by selecting the “Diversity & Inclusion” category tab on our Social Service “Utilization Library” page.