PHOTO ESSAY | Juneteenth 2024 With Africatown Community Land Trust and King County Equity Now

by Susan Fried

Three years after Juneteenth became an official national holiday, Jimi Hendrix Park was filled with thousands of people celebrating with friends and family last Wednesday, June 19. The annual celebration of Black freedom was hosted by King County Equity Now (KCEN) and Africatown Community Land Trust (ACLT) as part of ACLT’s Summer of Soul events and featured over a hundred vendors selling everything from arts and crafts, clothes, jewelry, and, of course, a variety of delicious food. There were also performances by more than a dozen local artists.

On what turned out to be a perfect June day, people wandered through the park checking out the vendors, eating the delicious food, listening to music, and enjoying the performances. There were numerous activities for children and adults, including bounce houses, an art station, and horseback riding courtesy of the Buffalo Soldiers. Nearby, the Northwest African American Museum was having its own Juneteenth roller-skating party.

The celebration lasted all day, ending with a performance by local artist J. Holiday.

Master of Ceremonies Trae Holiday introduces the next act on the Africatown Land Trust stage during the Juneteenth Freedom Fest in Jimi Hendrix Park on June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

People have their hair worked on at the I AM Loc Shop tent, one of the 100+ vendors at the annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest in Jimi Hendrix Park on June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Roller skaters at the Northwest African American Museum’s annual Juneteenth Skate Party in Judkins Park. NAAM’s event was happening at the same time as the Africatown Community Land Trust and King County Equity Now Juneteenth Freedom Fest at Jimi Hendrix Park. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Vendors selling everything from clothes, jewelry, shoes, art, and food filled Jimi Hendrix Park for the annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest on June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Skye Dior performed during the annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest at Jimi Hendrix Park, June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Lauren, 5, paints a picture at an art station set up by the Canvas of Hope Foundation. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Children play in a bounce house during the Juneteenth festivities on June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Three friends pose for a photo during the annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest at Jimi Hendrix Park, June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Unapologetically Jason performs during the annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest at Jimi Hendrix Park. More than 15 acts performed during the event on June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Ambient Village performs during the annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest at Jimi Hendrix Park. More than 15 acts performed during the event, June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

The crowd dances during the annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest in Jimi Hendrix Park, June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

One of Seattle’s favorite dance groups Kutt’N’Up performs an original piece during the Juneteenth Freedom Fest in Jimi Hendrix Park, June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

The Buffalo Soldiers ride through Jimi Hendrix Park during the Juneteenth Freedom Fest, June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Over a hundred vendors sold their products at the annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest in Jimi Hendrix Park, June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Sisters Juniper and Zerina, 3, and their older sister Charlotte, 9, pose for a photo at Jimi Hendrix Park on Juneteenth, June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

A man carries his tired dog through Jimi Hendrix Park during the annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest. People brought their dogs and children to the park to celebrate the national holiday, June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Susan Fried has been a photographer for over 40 years. In addition to the weddings, portraits and some commercial work she did early in her career, she has been the Skanner Newspaper’s Seattle photographer for almost 25 years. Her images have also appeared in a variety of other publications including the Anchorage Times and Anchorage Daily News, the University of Washington Daily, the Seattle Globalist, Crosscut and of course the South Seattle Emerald. She has been contributing articles and photographs to the Emerald for the last 5 years. Follow her on Instagram @fried.susan. Website: susan-fried.squarespace.com
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Susan Fried

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Susan Fried is a 40-year veteran photographer. Her early career included weddings, portraits, and commercial work — plus, she’s been The Skanner News’ Seattle photographer for 25 years. Her images have appeared in the University of Washington’s The Daily, The Seattle Globalist, Crosscut, and many more. She’s been an Emerald contributor since 2015. Follow her on Instagram @fried.susan.

📸 Featured Image: Kutt’N’Up finishes a powerful dance number before an enthusiastic crowd during the annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest at Jimi Hendrix Park, June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

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