HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) -Juneteenth’s roots date back to 1865, when the last enslaved people in Texas learned they were free.
This was more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, which said all slaves were free.
There will be events all across North Alabama this weekend to let people know what Juneteenth is really about.
There will be a 4th annual Juneteenth celebration at The Camp restaurant in Huntsville on Friday and Saturday.
There will also be a Juneteenth celebration at the Orion Amphitheater on Saturday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Randy Kelley, the Pastor for the Lakeside United Methodist Church In Huntsville, says these events are about a lot more than just having a good time.
“This is an opportunity for those of us who are conscious to be able to teach the future generation and then empower them with the knowledge that they need. Because if they know the history of the struggle, there’s no way they can continue to struggle.”
Juneteenth has been a federal holiday since 2021, but is not yet a state holiday in Alabama.
Kelley said Juneteenth is a great opportunity for people of all ages to learn more about the immense sacrifices that people made during the Civil War to abolish slavery.
“It is a time to reflect on blacks as well as white people of goodwill and others that contribute to our freedom. And when we look at the day-to-day resistance of the ex-slaves, we see that resistance is something that’s even filtered in our religious practices today.”
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