All over the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, there have been plenty of celebrations dedicated towards honoring the freedom of enslaved Black people, specifically when they learned slavery stopped two years before. All over the state of Minnesota, events are ongoing consistently enough to allow many to join in the theming of the Juneteenth’s idea of “Wave of Freedom.” This is the first year that the holiday has been declared as a state holiday in Minnesota.

In Minneapolis, there’s been a long history through the day, as many neighborhoods show historically how the city has maintained a proud collective of Black people. Local organizers have been beforehand throwing Juneteenth celebrations that have dated back to at least the 1980s.

Juneteenth is a community effort.

Just this past Saturday, people from the north side were eloping towards various events to come to various celebrations of music, community and food. Such a day had begun with a parade to Bethune Park.

The event itself had been sponsored along with the help of the Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board, the NAACP, the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center and other organizations. The Juneteenth Community Board had sponsored the event carefully.

Such performances had been organized by local talents such as Jamecia Bennett, while also a kite-building station with a Civil War living history exhibit. Lee H. Jordan, the event organizer, is going to keep Black history at the face of Juneteenth. According to her, there’s freedom to be told in a widespread national story.

A COVID-19 vaccination booth as well as several local healthcare providers have been present.

Meanwhile, the University of Minnesota had been hosting the second anual Juneteenth celebration upon Plymouth Avenue. Starting outside of the UMN Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC). The event connects the local community and the University in an awesome celebration for all to remember.

It’s a good thing that Juneteenth is finally being celebrated. It matters to honor the holiday in a way that is respectful to the past and hopeful to the future generations of Black Americans and various other allies and minorities. The respect has long been overdue. So it’s nice that this is occurring.