Area residents participate in Lansdale's first Juneteenth event at Borough Hall on June 19, 2020.
This weekend, Lansdale will be celebrating Juneteenth for the second time in our community. Last year, I was proud and honored to be the first mayor in our community to declare every June 19 as “Juneteenth” in Lansdale. In 2020, a sizable crowd safely gathered outside borough hall to hear the story of Juneteenth and the importance it holds with communities across our country, and how Juneteenth is a day to celebrate and honor all those who helped end slavery in America.
So, what is Juneteenth exactly? According to the New York Times, “On June 19, 1865, about two months after the Confederate general Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox, Va., Gordon Granger, a Union general, arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved African-Americans of their freedom and that the Civil War had ended. General Granger’s announcement put into effect the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been issued more than two and a half years earlier on Jan. 1, 1863, by President Abraham Lincoln.”
Juneteenth is the celebration of that moment. The moment that the Emancipation Proclamation had, finally, reached the very furthest points of the United States. As most would suspect, the celebration of such an important moment in our country’s history is varied. The day can encapsulate everything from prayers and vigils to concerts, murals and parades.
Lansdale is no different in this respect. This year, I am proud to share that there will be two events celebrating Juneteenth in Lansdale on June 19; one in Memorial Park hosted by the Lansdale Black Business Association and the other by Shaheer Johnson and the Lansdale Equity Coalition at Round Guys Brewery & Lansdale Tavern. Both events are family oriented and will have music, food, crafts, and learning opportunities for the whole family.
While Juneteenth is not a national holiday — yet — everyone should take a moment to celebrate it. The history of our country is messy. There are moments of real triumph and heroism, however, there are also moments of bigotry and deep seeded hate. This past continues to shape our future and Juneteenth is a celebration of — for a moment — overcoming those divisions. It is a celebration of liberation and one of the highlight moments of an ongoing march toward equity and equality for our friends and neighbors of color.
As the National Museum of African American History & Culture states; “The historical legacy of Juneteenth shows the value of never giving up hope in uncertain times.”
Confronting the past can be hard, but it is critically important that we do so. Celebrating this day openly and publicly showcases that we are committed to understanding and learning from the lessons of the past while also coming together as a community to work toward a better future for all of us.
I hope to see you all at the events this weekend!
(Mayoral Musings is a weekly op-ed column submitted to North Penn Now, courtesy of Lansdale Borough Mayor Garry Herbert.)
See also:
Mayoral Musings: Increasing The Ranks Of The Police Department
Mayoral Musings: June Is Pride Month In Lansdale Borough
Mayoral Musings: Mental Health Awareness Month
Mayoral Musings: Making Sense Of Today’s Ballot Questions When Voting
Mayoral Musings: Making the Case for Universal Childcare
