The sixth annual celebration of Juneteenth in Evanston is set for Saturday, June 21. It’s made possible by the City of Evanston in partnership with Evanston Present and Future, a nonprofit organization dedicated to producing, educating and uplifting Evanston’s Black community.
Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States which occurred on June 19, 1865. It is a day of remembrance, reflection and celebration. It was made a federal holiday by former President Joe Biden in 2021 and a state holiday by Gov. J.B. Pritzker the same year.
Evanston has announced a list of closures and service changes for Thursday, June 19 in observance of the holiday.
The festivities are scheduled to begin Saturday with a parade that steps off at 11 a.m. The route will begin at the corner of Dempster Street and Dodge Avenue, continue north on Dodge, turn east on Simpson Street and finish at the Evanston Civic Center at 2100 Ridge Ave.
The parade will feature local organizations, nonprofits, marching groups, the Jesse White tumblers and the South Shore drill team.
Following the parade, the festivities continue with “The Divine Nine Juneteenth — A Legacy Celebration,” beginning at noon at Ingraham Park.
The celebration will feature award presentations by Evanston Present and Future, guest speakers, live music, spoken word artists and Ayodele Drum and Dance. Activities for children, face painting and food vendors will also be part of the celebration.
The Divine Nine is the collective name for the nine Black fraternities and sororities, who will be represented on Saturday. The organizations include Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Delta Sigma Theta, Phi Beta Sigma, Zeta Phi Beta, Sigma Gamma Rho and Iota Phi Theta.
Those nine organizations will be represented and honored at the celebration. Music will be provided by Darrian Ford, who will be performing The Cooke Book: The Music of Sam Cooke.
Producer of the event, Tim Rhoze, shared that having the Divine Nine at this year’s celebration makes it extraordinary.
“What these nine Black Sororities and Fraternities have contributed to the Black American culture from the early 20th Century to present day, is invaluable,” Rhoze said. “From scholarships, and mentorships, to community engagement in the arts, education, business and beyond, the D9 organizations have been and continue to be a beacon of inspiration.”
The celebration goes from noon to 4 p.m. and is free. Its aim is to celebrate Juneteenth and commit to unity through culture, music and joy.
Rhoze also emphasized that this year’s celebration is just as important as previous years. Even in the current political climate, he said he believes Juneteenth still carries importance by calling it a day to celebrate and honor the complicated journey to freedom for Black Americans.
“We celebrate the legacy of those who did not survive to see June 19, 1865 and those who survived to create hope and possibilities for those who came after,” Rhoze said.
