How We Celebrated Juneteenth in Richmond, California

Juneteenth is a federal holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans on June 19, 1865 in Galveston, Texas. Juneteenth celebrates the announcement of General Order No. 3 by Union Army General Granger, proclaiming freedom for enslaved people in Texas. Since Texas was the last state of the Confederacy where slavery was practiced, this announcement was a significant milestone following Abraham Lincoln’s earlier Emancipation Proclamation, which wasn’t enforced by Union troops in Texas until General Order No. 3 was issued. Juneteenth was recognized as an official federal holiday in 2021. 

Thanks for Celebrating with Us

This year, one of the ways we are celebrated Juneteenth with the Richmond community was by attending the official Richmond Juneteenth Parade. The parade started at the Booker T. Anderson Center at 960 S 47th Street and ended at Nicholl Park at 3230 Macdonald Avenue.

Thanks to everyone that joined us! 

When: 8:00 a.m., Saturday June 18

Where: Booker T. Anderson Center, 960 South 47th Street, Richmond

“Let's make Juneteenth a commemorative, not of the horrific institution our country embraced, but rather as a showcase of the strength in the American spirit to recognize wrong and set about making it right. In this same spirit America moves ahead today in leveling playing fields and achieving ever greater equality. Let us celebrate all that Juneteenth teaches us about our country's greatness in our use of the heart to hear and to learn and to work together for all that is good and just.”

- John Albuquerque

Take Action

When we celebrate Juneteenth and the emancipation of enslaved people, we must remember that there are generational impacts that are still at play, and take action to repair the damages caused.

America must address the impacts of slavery to make strides toward reparatory justice. Please contact your lawmakers to support H.R. 40, a bill that would establish a commission to examine the impacts of the institution of slavery and make a Congressional recommendation for reparations.