SALT LAKE CITY — Juneteenth may put a spotlight on the end of slavery in the United States after the Civil War, but proponents say the message of the holiday reverberates far beyond just the Black community.
“The ideals of freedom, justice and hope are not only central to Juneteenth, but also the core American values that unite us. By remembering our history, pursuing justice and renewing hope, we strengthen our communities and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that these values remain accessible to all,” reads a University of Utah statement on Juneteenth.
Friday is Juneteenth, June 19 each year, and the University of Utah and other organizations have a range of activities planned to mark the occasion. Project Success Coalition in Ogden is organizing an event, and, like the University of Utah, Amir Jackson, marketing manager for the group, noted the universal themes associated with the holiday.
“It is a reminder of resilience, progress, culture and community,” he said. “This year’s Family Reunion theme is centered on creating a welcoming environment where everyone feels connected, valued and celebrated.”
Though meant to celebrate the end of slavery, Juneteenth more specifically marks June 19, 1865. That’s the day when Union troops reached Galveston, Texas — months after the end of the U.S. Civil War — to let some 250,000 African Americans know they were free. Some leaders in the Black community refer to Juneteenth, a federal and state holiday, as their second Independence Day, after July 4.
LeiLoni Allan McLaughlin, director of the U.’s Center for Community and Cultural Engagement, noted the importance of Juneteenth in the broader context of the nation’s historic milestones.
“American history is important to celebrate because it reflects the ongoing journey of people across this country to learn, grow and build connections as communities, colleagues, friends, family members, neighbors, Utahns and Americans,” said McLaughlin. “We are all here because of the sacrifices, resilience and determination of those who came before us, and because of our shared commitment to creating meaningful and fulfilling lives for ourselves and future generations.”
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Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and community leaders gathered last Friday to mark Juneteenth early and raise the city’s blue and red Sego Celebration Flag, modeled after the Juneteenth flag.
“We have a choice what we do with the pressure that’s on us today and with the invitation to hate. We have a choice, and today we’re choosing to raise this flag of love,” Mendenhall said at the event. “It celebrates freedom, a new horizon, and it honors the blood shed by the enslaved people who were oppressed for hundreds of years.”
Here’s a rundown of some of the coming Juneteenth activities around Utah:
Panel discussion: The U. is hosting a panel discussion and Q&A period, open to the public, on the significance of Juneteenth on Wednesday from 12-2:30 p.m. at Gould Auditorium in Mariott Library on the university campus.
Millcreek Common:Millcreek Common at 1330 E. Chambers Ave. in Millcreek is hosting a free Juneteenth Eve Celebration on Thursday from 6-10 p.m. focused on the theme Freedom is a Movement, Not a Moment. Activities include free skating, live entertainment and activities celebrating Black history and culture.
Beloved Community: Beloved Community, a nonprofit group that promotes belonging, equity and cultural memory, is hosting the Salt Lake Juneteenth Celebration and Black-owned Business Expo on Friday. Activities start at the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City with a community yoga session at 9 a.m., speakers at 10 a.m. and a “celebration walk” at 11:15 a.m. to The Gateway.
A festival featuring food trucks, live entertainment, a business expo and an art gallery and festival follows at The Gateway at 10 N. Rio Grande St. in Salt Lake City from noon to dusk. The celebration is a ticketed event, though free tickets are available.
Project Success Coalition: Project Success Coalition, based in Ogden, is hosting its Juneteenth Festival, now in its 37th year, on Saturday from noon-9 p.m. at the Ogden Amphitheater at 343 25th St. Vendors, food offerings, live performances and entertainment are among the offerings.
“Designed to feel like a true family gathering, the event will create space for generations to come together through music, food, fellowship and shared experiences,” reads a press release for the event.
The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.
