by Susan Fried
Despite a typical “Juneuary” day in Seattle, thousands of people attended the Juneteenth Celebration at Jimi Hendrix Park on June 19. The second year since Juneteenth became recognized as a federal holiday, and the first time the event was held without COVID-19 restrictions, brought out lots of people in the mood to celebrate.
Continue reading PHOTO ESSAY | Juneteenth 2023 at Jimi Hendrix Parkby Jas Keimig
Last Updated on June 20, 2023, 9:14 am.
Every year, Black communities celebrate Juneteenth, the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Texas finally got word of their emancipation. The holiday — which gets its name from the contraction of “June” and “nineteenth” — got its start in the South, but with the Great Migration in the 20th century, Black people brought this celebration to their newfound communities across the country, including Seattle. Juneteenth got an even bigger boost in popularity following the George Floyd uprising in 2020, and it became a federal holiday in 2021.
Here at the South Seattle Emerald, we’ve put together a guide in chronological order to Juneteenth events across the city. Check back for updates!
Continue reading The ‘Emerald’ Guide to Juneteenth Events, 2023by Jas Keimig
Tucked into a corner in Shoreline’s Black-owned Black Coffee Northwest (BCNW), sits a bright blue and purple vending machine. This vending machine isn’t like other vending machines, stuffed with stale Fritos and old Rice Krispie treats. Instead, it’s filled with science-fiction books by Black authors — just swipe your credit card, and a book by Nichelle Nichols or Octavia Butler is all yours.
Continue reading Sistah Scifi’s Book Vending Machine Comes to the Northwest African American Museumby Dr. Ben Danielson
Timing is important. So it is significant that, on the precipice of Juneteenth, Seattle Children’s Hospital decided to close the Yesler location for the Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic. This location, in the heart of Seattle’s Central District, had held on through years of gentrification as a Black community resource.
Continue reading OPINION: A Threat or an Opportunity for Black Community?by Patheresa Wells
Sunday, June 19, Seattleites participated in Juneteenth events across the city. The holiday has long been celebrated throughout the country, especially among African Americans, though it was not formally recognized as a federal holiday until last year. While often thought of in conjunction with the Emancipation Proclamation freeing enslaved people in 1863, many would not receive news of their freedom until later. Those in Galveston, Texas, did not receive word of emancipation until June 19, 1865, more than two years after the 13th Amendment abolished slavery. Juneteenth started as a way for those enslaved in the Galveston area to celebrate that freedom had finally reached them.
Continue reading Seattle Turns Out for Juneteenth Celebrationsby Derrick Wheeler-Smith
Three years ago, I had the privilege to stand on the shores of Point Comfort (today’s Fort Monroe) in Hampton, Virginia, with hundreds of other African Americans to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first landing of enslaved Africans in English North America. Standing at the Ellis Island of African America 400 years ago, I imagined what their perilous landing must’ve been like. What I know for sure is that their presence profoundly impacted the cultural manifest of America’s past, yet their descendants remain subject to socioeconomic and political disparities today.
Continue reading OPINION: As We Celebrate Juneteenth, We Must Honor Our Past While Fighting for Our Futureby April Sims
Washington will recognize Juneteenth as an official State holiday for the first time this year. This increased recognition of Freedom Day — long celebrated by Black Americans coast to coast — provides an opportunity for Black people to share our resilient history, the country’s history, with our broader community.
Continue reading OPINION: What Juneteenth Means to a Black Woman Labor Leaderby Amanda Ong
Juneteenth has been celebrated for over a century and a half by African Americans as the day in 1865 when news reached across the country that slavery was abolished. Though the holiday has only been recognized by the state and federal government since 2021, Seattle communities have already been celebrating for years.
The Emerald has rounded up Juneteenth events from across the South End, listed here in chronological order.
Keep an eye on this guide for possible updates!
Continue reading Juneteenth 2022: A Guide to Celebrating in the South Endby Susan Fried, Ronnie Estoque, and Maile Anderson
From marching, dance, and roller skating, to meditation, music, and a restaurant homecoming, South Seattle marked the first federally recognized Juneteenth 2021 with beautiful spirit and joy. Emerald photographers hit the streets on Saturday to capture some of the many happenings around the South End. Among them: In the morning, “No Healing, No Peace!” A Walking Meditation for Black Liberation was held at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park and Jackson’s Catfish Corner celebrated their grand opening and return to the Central District. In the afternoon, It Takes a Village Juneteenth Festival took place in Othello Park while KCEN’s annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration marched from 22nd Avenue and Madison Street to Jimi Hendrix Park. Black Girls Roller Skate hosted a Juneteenth roller skating party at Judkins Park and, in the evening, Wa Na Wari wrapped up the day at their Juneteenth Outdoor Celebration with live music.
Continue reading PHOTO ESSAY: South End Marks First Federal Juneteenth With Celebration and JoyThe Morning Update Show — hosted by Trae Holiday and The Big O (Omari Salisbury) — is the only weekday news and information livestream that delivers culturally relevant content to the Pacific Northwest’s urban audience. Omari and Trae analyze the day’s local and national headlines as well as melanin magic in our community. Watch live every weekday at 11 a.m. on any of the following channels, hosted by Converge Media: YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, Periscope, and whereweconverge.com.
We also post the Morning Update Show here on the Emerald each day after it airs, so you can catch up any time of day while you peruse our latest posts.
Jackson’s Catfish Corner Is Open for Business! | Juneteenth in Review | Roll Around Seatown
Continue reading The Morning Update Show — 6/21/21
