Celebrated across the United States, this week and weekend will see several Juneteenth events in Humboldt County. Organizers, including Black Humboldt and the Eureka Chapter of the NAACP, are knee-deep in putting together events spread over four days in Fortuna, Arcata, Eureka and online for the fifth annual festival in Humboldt County.
Juneteenth, a celebration of the end of slavery in the U.S, is held on June 19, commemorating the moment in 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger landed at Galveston, Texas two and a half years after the emancipation proclamation and brought the news that Black Americans were free.
“This is very much a day off but also a day on, to be in community to share knowledge and lived experiences and to platform Black community, history and legacy,” said Mo Harper-Desir, co-founder of Black Humboldt in an email to the Times-Standard Monday. The holiday has been celebrated since the late 1800s. In 2021, President Joseph Biden made it a federal holiday when he signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law.
“My favorite memory was walking through the crowd and seeing all the faces of elation and joy. I heard laughing far and wide, children playing, businesses thriving, yummy food, multiple generations of families all in one place and knowing that we had brought community together in a beautiful and positive way!” wrote Levia Love, Black Humboldt’s wellness and Black business liason in an email to the Times-Standard, when asked about a favorite memory from previous years.
Humboldt County’s Juneteenth celebrations began in 2019. Dionna Ndlovu and Mo Harper-Desir, co-founders of Black Humboldt, grew up in communities that have long celebrated Juneteenth and what it represents, said Harper-Desir in an email. They decided to kickstart the larger celebration to continue that tradition on a greater scale in Humboldt County.
The organization noted in a February write-up that in Humboldt County, Black people currently comprise 2% of the population. “This small population struggles to create and maintain representation as an equal part of the community in comparison to the majority white community,” the organization wrote in February.
Black Humboldt organized the celebration on an online/smaller scale through the COVID-19 pandemic, which Harper-Desir said allowed for outside voices to easily participate and it was cheaper to run. This year’s festival is set to include over 25 local Black businesses, 30 artists and performers, an educational series, open mics, BBQs and celebratory events.
Lexxi Reid, Black Humboldt’s communications fellow, said via email that she’s most excited about the pride tribute and vogueing workshop this year.
“I hope that everyone just has fun and feels the love,” she said.
The full schedule can be found at www.Blackhumboldt.com/juneteenth-celebration
Sage Alexander can be reached at 707-441-0504
