June Nineteenth, shortened to Juneteenth, is a federal holiday that commemorates the emancipation of Black people in the United States from slavery. It dates to June 19, 1865, the date when Blacks in Galveston, Texas, discovered they were free, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Many Black people see Juneteenth as their independence day and celebrate accordingly.
For 30 years, the Juneteenth Committee of Wilmington, NC, Inc. has been organizing events to commemorate Juneteenth. Here’s more about this year’s events from Abdul Rahman Shareef, co-chair of the Juneteenth Committee.
How did the Juneteenth Committee of Wilmington started?
“We had a desire as a Muslim Community to revive the celebration of Juneteenth collectively across the United States,” Shareef said.
Following the encouragement of Muslim leader Imam W. Deen Mohammed, the committee visited Charleston, South Carolina, in 1994, to observe how the city celebrated Juneteenth.
In 1995, five associates ― Shareef, Bashir El-Amin, Jamaal Bilal, Dawud Muhammad, and Dawud El-Amin ― organized the first Juneteenth Festival and Parade in Wilmington. The special guest and grand marshal was U.S. Air Force Retired Maj. Gen. Joseph McNeil, a graduate of Williston Senior High School in Wilmington, and one of the members of the Greensboro Four.
The Greensboro Four was a group of African American college students who on Feb. 1, 1960, sat down at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter in downtown Greensboro. The college students were challenging the store’s policy of denying service to non-White customers.
Marsha Graham-Ali has served as chairman of the Juneteenth Committee since 2004, and Shareef has served as co chairman.
Involvement
Over the years, as more community residents got involved to help spearhead programs around Juneteenth (highlighting African history in Wilmington and nationally), a community partnership was formed with the city of Wilmington to have a variety of programs and community events.
The committee is a nonprofit organization with a diverse membership and sponsorship.
Juneteenth Committee activities
The committee concentrates on activity throughout the month of June, but they are actively engage throughout the year. Their motto is: “Educating, Emancipating, Empowering, Energizing Our Communities Through the Celebration of Our History.”
“It’s a Family Affair” is the theme for 2025. In June, the committee focuses on June 19th and plans around 10 to 12 activities during the month. Some of the 2025 events will include a U.S. Colored Troops tribute on Tuesday, June 17 at the Wilmington National Cemetery, the Juneteenth Breakfast on Thursday, June 19 and a Juneteenth Festival on Saturday, June 21. Vendors and sponsors are welcome to join. Visit the Juneteenth Committee of Wilmington, Inc. on Facebook or email JuneteenthWilmington@gmail.com.
What does the future holds for the Juneteenth Committee?
“The future looks good, and we are striving for excellence and a great future and fun while we do it,” Shareef said.
Cheryl M. Whitaker covers community news for the StarNews. Reach her at cheryl.whitaker@starnewsonline.com.
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