Juneteenth celebration comes to Arizona Heritage Center
June 13, 2022
Mark your calendars for the upcoming “Juneteenth Celebration” at the Arizona Heritage Center this weekend.
The ASU Library is partnering with the Arizona Historical Society and the Black Family Genealogy and History Society to bring you the first Juneteenth Celebration at the Arizona Heritage Center this weekend.
On Arizona Horizon this week, we spoke to Jessica Salow, an ASU Library archivist, and Marie Scott, who is with Black Family Genealogy.
WHAT IS JUNETEENTH?
Juneteenth is a day to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and to celebrate African American culture. Juneteenth, which is short for June Nineteenth, marks the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Now, Juneteenth recognizes and honors the end to slavery in the U.S. and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. On June 17, 2021, it officially became a federal holiday. Each year, this day is a way to bring communities together. It’s a day of talking about Arizona’s history through the stories of African American migration.
EVENT DETAILS
The Juneteenth Celebration will be held Sunday, June 19 from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Arizona Heritage Center (1300 N. College Ave., Tempe, AZ 85281.) Here, visitors can enjoy performances, educational tables, food and refreshments, and accomplished speakers. Those include Neal Lester, Kareem Neal, Jessica Salow and Margaret Hangan.
Please register for this event with the Arizona Historical Society. And, the event is free.
THE LOCATION
The Arizona Heritage Center is located at 1300 N. College Avenue. Tucked against the beautiful Papago Park preserve, the Arizona Heritage Center is an oasis in the desert. In the heart of the Valley of the Sun, it’s a place where you can discover how the sprawling Phoenix metropolis began.