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North Carolina: Juneteenth celebrations kickoff in the Piedmont Triad

North Carolina: Juneteenth celebrations kickoff in the Piedmont Triad
MARKS A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE AND CELEBRATION FOR THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CMUOMNITY. IT’S ALSO NOW A FEDERAL HOLIDAY. BUT WHAT’S THE MEANING BEHIND ISTH EMANCIPATION CELEBRATION? WELL TONIGHT WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ADVERSITYND A HUMAN SPIRIT OF STRENGT THHAT INCOMPASSES WHY JUNETEENTH IS SO CRITICAL TO CELEBRATE AND PASS ON TO FUTURE GENER. TITSPA HISTORY AND FREEDOM, THEY ARE THE PILRSLA OF SAINT PHILIP’S CHUHRC IN OLD SALEM ENWH EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATIONS FIRST WRITTEN A COUNTER CE AMTO WINSTON-SALEM. TWO ANNOUNCE THAT EMANCIPATIONT’ MORAVIAN CHURC IHN OLD SALEM. IT’S THE OLDEST BCKLA CHURCH IN THE SOUTHEAST. SO WHAT’S ACTUALLY RED HERE IN WHAT WE CALL WINSTON-SALEM. 1863 AND ANSWER TO RELENTLESS PRAYERS FROM THESE PEWS BUT NOT EVERYONE. TGO THE MESSAGE. SO YEARS LERAT THE LAST POPULATION TO LEARN ABOUT THAT CELEBRATION OF FREOMED WAS IN GALVESTON, TEXAS. ON THE 19TH OF JUNE THEREFORE, IT’S CALLED JUNE 10TH. CAUSBEE THEY WERE THE LAST COMMUNITY TO GET THE CELEBRATION NEWS AND INDEED THEY WERE FREE. SO IT’S A JUBILEE TIME TO CELEBRATE AND WE'V’ BEEN SORT OF CELEBRATING EVERY YEAR SINCE THEN. BUTOT UNDERSTAND WHY AND THE PURPOSE OF JUNETEENTH FORSYTH COUNTY COMMISSIONER FLEMING ELEMENT SAYS THAT YOU MUST LOOK BACK. BEYOND THE FOOD DANCING AND GATHERINGS OF JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS. SO HE TRAVELED THE GLOBE INCLUDING A TPRI TO WEST AFRICA IN 2000 FOR SIX WEEKS VISITGIN THE CASTLES WHERE MOTRSHE FATHERS AND CHILDRENE WER HELD IN DEEP BASEMENTS WHAT I EXPERIENCEDOI GNG INTO THOSE CASTLES ON THE COAST OF WEST AFCARI YOU GO THROUGH THIS THING CALLED THE DOOR OF NO RETURN. BUT BENEATH THAT DOOR, IT’S LIKE A I CALL A SUBTERRANEAN BASEMENT. THAT’S A NICE WAY OF PUTTING IT. IT’S A BIG. SPACE WHERE THEY KEPT SLAVES UNTIL IT WAS SIMON SHIP THEM. TO THE NEW WORLD AND WHEN I WENT IN THAT EXPERIENCE, SHE LOOKED DOWN AND YOU SEE A LITTLE SMALL WINDOW ON WEDNESDAY. IT’S NOT REALLY ONE OF OPENING. ETH ALL FOUR SIDES A SLLMA OPEN LIKE THIS THE REST OF US COMPLETELY DOG AND AROUND THE WHOLE SQUARE. IT’S LIKE AN INDENTION FOR HUMAN WASTE. SO WHEN YOU GO IN THAT KIND OF SPACE. THIS WAY BECAME IN MY MIND. I SAID FATHER. WHY DO WE HAV TOE HAVE TO GO THROUGH CHILD OF SLAVERY? AND THE ANSWER I GOT WAS SIMPLY. UYO ARE THE ANSWER TO YROU ANCESTORS PRAYERS. SO LET’S GO HOME AND GET BUSY AND DO WHAT YOU CAN TO BE THE BEST YOU MAY BE IN YOUAN C BE AND STOP MAKING EXCUSES. THAT WAS SO TO ME. THERE’S A PERSONAL COMMITMENT TOO ARTIST OWEN DANIELS IS PASSING THAT ON THROUGH ART WITH STORIES OF STRENGTH BEYOND FREEDOM LIKE MARY TURNER HUNTED DOWN BY A WHITE MOTH AS SHE SAW JUSTICE FOR HER HUSBAND WHO WAS HUNG TYHE EXCITED TO KILL HER. SO THEY CHASED HER OUT OF TOWN. IMAGINE A 21 YEAR OLD WOMAN. SEVEN EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT TRYING TO RUN AIN’T GONNA GO VE RY FAR. THEY GOT TO THIS BRIDGE. AND THEY STRUNG HER UP AND THEY HUNG HER. UPSIDE DOWN ON THE BRIDGE. AND WHEN THEY HUNG UPSIDE DOWN SHE WOULDN’T DIE. SO THEYOUSE D THE GASOLINE AND BURNED THEIR ALIVE. AND BEFORE SHE BURNT ALIVEHEY T CUT THE BABY OUT AND STOMPED AT THE DEATH. THAT’S THE SRYTO OF MARY TURNER. I WANTED HER TO BE SO DEFIANT. THAT YOU COULD NOT. WALK PAST HER AND NOT SEE YOUR COURAGE OWEN SAYS THE ROPES THAT TIDE TURNER DID NOT BIND HER A TESTAMENT OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN STRENGTH WORTH CELEBRATING AND ENGANGGI BUT IF YOU START LOOKING AT THE WORD LONG ENOUGH LIKE THE WORK THAT’S OVER MY SHOULDER ABOUT MURRAY TURNER. THE THE PIECE OF WORKERS START HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH YOU. DAN THAT IS WHAT AN ARTISTOB J IS TO CREATE THIS COMMERCE THIS SAFE SPACE WHERE YOU CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION NOT ABOUT A GREEN OR DISAGREEING. IT’S NOT ABOUT PERCEPTION. IT’S ABOUT YOU HAVING A CONVERSATION LIKE WE ARE AND YOU’RE WALKING AWAY WITH THE IDEA THAT YOU GNAI AN UNDERSTANDING ABOUT YOURSELF TO ME JUNETEEN SORT OF REPRENESTS A START THE HUMAN SPIRIT. BECAUSE IT’S UNCOMFORTAE.BL EVEN COMING OUT OF CHAESRL SLAVERYT A ONE POINT BEING SHIFTED AND THOSE FREE PERSONS WERE ABLE TO HAVE A LIFE OF THEIR OWN INDEPENDENT FROM THAT PECULIAR INSTITUTION. SO IF YOU LOOK AT IT FROM TTHA CONTEXT, YOU SEE THAT IT’S A CELEBRATION OF ALL PEOPLE. WE ALL LOVE TO BE FREE IN OUR CHOISCE AND OUR LIFE CHOICES AND OUR CULTURE CHOICES IN OUR RELIGIOUS CHOICES. AND SO THAT FREEDOM IS A BASIC FOUNDATION OF OUR HUMAN EXISTENCE. SO, WRONG, IT’S GETTING MORE CELEBRATIONS. THE CITY WANTS TO SALEM AND CLUTTER THE HOLIDAY GREENSBORO TOLEDO HOLIDAY, SO I EXPECTED TO CATCH ANY MORE. SO IN THE FUTURE. AND TONIGHT THERE IS A FREE EVENT HOSTED BY THERT AS COUNCIL OF WINSTON-SALEM AND FORSYTH COUNTY FEATURING THE ARTWORK OF OWEN’S DANIELS LEADING UP TO JUNETEENTHS A HE JUST SAW THE OPENING RECEPTION IS FROM 6PM TO 8 PM TONIGHT AGAIN, IT’S FREE, BUT IT ALSO RUNS UNTIL AUGUST 27TH IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT OUT AND WE DO HAVE A FULL LTIS OF JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS O OUR WEBSITE WXII 12.COM MANY PEOPLE LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL OF THOSE CELEBRATIONS AND I KNOW JACLY IS ONE SLATED FOR A SATURDAY AND BAILEY PARK HOLLY LOOKING AS WE INCH TOWARDS THE WEEKEND. OH, IT’LL BE NICE ON SAD NICEN O SATURDAY FOR SURE, BUT DEFINITELY MORE HUMID T
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North Carolina: Juneteenth celebrations kickoff in the Piedmont Triad
June 19 plays host to the holiday of Juneteenth, which recognizes the full emancipation of enslaved Africans in the United States. It is the first known celebration and observance originating in Texas. The holiday remains an important part of African American culture, yet wasn't met with widely-known observance alongside other federally-recognized holidays. In the wake of the deaths of individuals such as George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery re-shifting media focus to things such as racial justice, Juneteenth found itself being recognized in various communities across North Carolina and the country. Here in the Piedmont Triad, multiple events and celebrations are happening this week: The city of Winston-Salem is sponsoring a variety of events as part of a Juneteenth Celebration with Triad Cultural Arts. Events include:An opening reception and Black culture pop-up museum will be held 6-8 p.m. Thursday, June 17, at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts.A virtual "Freedom Ceremony" will be aired at 12 p.m. Friday, June 18, on WSTV (Spectrum 13), Triad Cultural Arts Facebook page and YouTube channel.A screening of Miss Juneteenth by a/perture cinema at The Muse, located at 226 S. Liberty St. in Winston-Salem, at 8:30 p.m. Friday, June 18.A Juneteenth Festival from 12-5 p.m. Saturday, June 19, at Biotech Place in Winston-Salem's Innovation Quarter and from 12-7 p.m. at Bailey Park. Community members can also experience parts of the festival virtually on the Triad Cultural Arts Facebook page and YouTube channel. Click here for more information about the event.The Home-Grown Juneteenth celebration, featuring multiple black-owned vendors, live music and food, will be held 2-6 p.m. Saturday, June 19, at Sabrina's, located at 112 South Main St. in High Point. Guests are encouraged to bring a lawn chair. Click here for more information.Just Dance Studio, located at 1223 Greensboro Rd. in High Point, is hosting a Juneteenth Paint Night 6:30-8:30 pm. Saturday, June 19. Click here for more information.In honor of Juneteenth, the city of Greensboro will celebrate African American culture and history through a series of events streamed on the city’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, June 19. Click here for more information.The GSO Black Wall Street group is hosting a Juneteenth Business Expo at 12 p.m. Saturday, June 19. The event will be held at Sternberger Park, located at 715 Summit Ave. in Greensboro, and will feature food, vendors, games and giveaways. Click here for more information.There will be a Juneteenth Festival at The Heritage Center, 257 Standard St., in Elkin on Saturday, June 19. Events kickoff at 8 a.m. Click here for more information. A Juneteenth Street Festival is planned for Saturday, June 19th in downtown Mount Airy in the Market Street Arts and Entertainment district. The event runs from 12 p.m. - 9 p.m. The Western District Social Action Commission of the African Methodist Episcopal Church is hosting a Juneteenth celebration in Mebane on Saturday. The event will be at Mebane Holt Street Park, 411 West Holt Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be vendors, entertainment, arts, poetry, and dance.The Historic Walnut Cove Colored School is celebrating its 100th anniversary on Juneteenth with a day of games, food, music, and a film featuring former students. The Centennial Celebration runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.Anything For Our Youth Group, Inc. of Lexington is hosting a Juneteenth Freedom Celebration community event on Saturday. The virtual event begins at 3 p.m. A walking history tour starts at 6 p.m. Click here for more information. Neighborhood Clean-up, at 23rd Street and Cleveland Avenue, in Winston-Salem, on June 19 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.The City of Burlington will celebrate a Juneteenth Celebration of Alamance County’s Black History at North Park Pool this Saturday, June 19. From 5:30-6:30, at the North Park Farmer’s Market Shelter, 100 Local Black History Boxes will be available for free by vehicle pick-up. The boxes are beautifully designed with information celebrating prominent black figures from our community’s past. The boxes will include a meal and other treats provided by local, black-owned businesses. Books for different reading levels will also be distributed at 5:30 by Alamance Achieves.

June 19 plays host to the holiday of Juneteenth, which recognizes the full emancipation of enslaved Africans in the United States. It is the first known celebration and observance originating in Texas.

The holiday remains an important part of African American culture, yet wasn't met with widely-known observance alongside other federally-recognized holidays.

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In the wake of the deaths of individuals such as George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery re-shifting media focus to things such as racial justice, Juneteenth found itself being recognized in various communities across North Carolina and the country.

Here in the Piedmont Triad, multiple events and celebrations are happening this week:

  • The city of Winston-Salem is sponsoring a variety of events as part of a Juneteenth Celebration with Triad Cultural Arts. Events include:
    • An opening reception and Black culture pop-up museum will be held 6-8 p.m. Thursday, June 17, at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts.
    • A virtual "Freedom Ceremony" will be aired at 12 p.m. Friday, June 18, on WSTV (Spectrum 13), Triad Cultural Arts Facebook page and YouTube channel.
    • A screening of Miss Juneteenth by a/perture cinema at The Muse, located at 226 S. Liberty St. in Winston-Salem, at 8:30 p.m. Friday, June 18.
    • A Juneteenth Festival from 12-5 p.m. Saturday, June 19, at Biotech Place in Winston-Salem's Innovation Quarter and from 12-7 p.m. at Bailey Park. Community members can also experience parts of the festival virtually on the Triad Cultural Arts Facebook page and YouTube channel. Click here for more information about the event.
  • The Home-Grown Juneteenth celebration, featuring multiple black-owned vendors, live music and food, will be held 2-6 p.m. Saturday, June 19, at Sabrina's, located at 112 South Main St. in High Point. Guests are encouraged to bring a lawn chair. Click here for more information.


  • Just Dance Studio, located at 1223 Greensboro Rd. in High Point, is hosting a Juneteenth Paint Night 6:30-8:30 pm. Saturday, June 19. Click here for more information.

  • In honor of Juneteenth, the city of Greensboro will celebrate African American culture and history through a series of events streamed on the city’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, June 19. Click here for more information.


  • The GSO Black Wall Street group is hosting a Juneteenth Business Expo at 12 p.m. Saturday, June 19. The event will be held at Sternberger Park, located at 715 Summit Ave. in Greensboro, and will feature food, vendors, games and giveaways. Click here for more information.
  • There will be a Juneteenth Festival at The Heritage Center, 257 Standard St., in Elkin on Saturday, June 19. Events kickoff at 8 a.m. Click here for more information.


  • A Juneteenth Street Festival is planned for Saturday, June 19th in downtown Mount Airy in the Market Street Arts and Entertainment district. The event runs from 12 p.m. - 9 p.m.


  • The Western District Social Action Commission of the African Methodist Episcopal Church is hosting a Juneteenth celebration in Mebane on Saturday. The event will be at Mebane Holt Street Park, 411 West Holt Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be vendors, entertainment, arts, poetry, and dance.
  • The Historic Walnut Cove Colored School is celebrating its 100th anniversary on Juneteenth with a day of games, food, music, and a film featuring former students. The Centennial Celebration runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Anything For Our Youth Group, Inc. of Lexington is hosting a Juneteenth Freedom Celebration community event on Saturday. The virtual event begins at 3 p.m. A walking history tour starts at 6 p.m. Click here for more information.



  • Neighborhood Clean-up, at 23rd Street and Cleveland Avenue, in Winston-Salem, on June 19 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
  • The City of Burlington will celebrate a Juneteenth Celebration of Alamance County’s Black History at North Park Pool this Saturday, June 19. From 5:30-6:30, at the North Park Farmer’s Market Shelter, 100 Local Black History Boxes will be available for free by vehicle pick-up. The boxes are beautifully designed with information celebrating prominent black figures from our community’s past. The boxes will include a meal and other treats provided by local, black-owned businesses. Books for different reading levels will also be distributed at 5:30 by Alamance Achieves.