By Canisha Bell
The Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863 with the intent to free enslaved African Americans. However, not all enslaved African Americans were freed, nor even informed of their freedom, that day.
In fact, over two years later on June 19, 1865 — when 2,000 Union troops arrived announcing the end of slavery in Galveston, Texas — there were still over 250,000 enslaved African Americans in the state.
Freedom for those still enslaved came by executive decree delivered by general order No. 3:
“The people are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property, between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them, becomes that between employer and hired labor…”
Thus, June 19, 1865 became known as Juneteenth, a day celebrating the freedom of all enslaved African Americans.
In 2023, President Joe Biden made Juneteenth into a federal holiday, making it the first new federal holiday since the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday almost four decades ago.
“… As we observe Juneteenth, we remind ourselves of the sacred proposition rooted in Scripture and enshrined in our Declaration of Independence: that we are all created equal in the image of God and each of us deserves to be treated equally throughout our lives,” Biden’s Juneteenth proclamation reads. “That is the promise of America that every generation is charged to keep alive. While the opposition may seem fierce and the fire of conflict may be intense, the story of Juneteenth reveals that freedom, justice, and equality will always prevail.”
This year in Flint, there are a host of events happening all month to celebrate Juneteenth, from lunches to parades, discussions to performances. Some are free and others have associated ticket costs.
A list of the area Juneteenth events our team could find follows, but if we’ve missed yours, please let us know in the comments or email our editor at eastvillagemagazineflint@gmail.com:
Saturday, June 1 | Noon
Petting Zoo, Horse & Pony Rides & Meet a Rodeo Cowboy
Gloria Coles Flint Public Library
1026 East Kearsley St. Flint, Mich.
Saturday, June 1 | 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
St. John’s Street Dance
St. John’s Street Neighborhood Memorial Park
Saturdays, June 1 & June 8
A Day At The Lake
Weekend 1 | June 1, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Bethesda Temple Church
947 Leland St. Flint, Mich.
Weekend 2 | June 8, 8:30 a.m.
Camp A.R.T.I.S @ Shay Lake
4574 Gifford Dr. Silverwood, Mich.
Friday & Saturday, June 7-8 | 7 p.m.
Midwest Invitation Rodeo
Everett A. Cummings Center
6130 E. Mount Morris Rd. Mt. Morris, Mich.
Saturday, June 8 | Noon – 5 p.m.
Juneteenth Kickoff
Sarvis Park
4000 Wisner, Flint, Mich.
Sunday, June 9 | 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Saints and Spirits
Metropolitan Church
930 E. Myrtle Ave. Flint, Mich.
Monday, June 10 | 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
B.U.S.T/Healing Circle
Martin Luther King Peace Park
MLK & McClellan in Flint, Mich.
Tuesday, June 11 | 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Ujamaa Market
North Flint Food Market
5402 N. Clio Rd. Flint, Mich.
Wednesday, June 12 | 5 – 8 p.m.
Historical War Stories
Berston Field House
3300 Saginaw St. Flint, Mich.
Thursday, June 13 | 2 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Hope Renewed Juneteenth Celebration
Brennan Center
1301 Pingree Ave. Flint, Mich.
Thursday, June 13 | 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Late Night at the FIA: Juneteenth Social
Flint Institute of Arts
1120 E Kearsley St. Flint, Mich.
Friday, June 14 | 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Black Lives Matter – Flint Special
McCree Theatre
4601 Clio Rd. Flint, Mich.
Saturday, June 15 | 9 a.m. – Noon
Harambee Breakfast
Higher Quality of Life Ministries Vision Center
5601 N Saginaw St. Flint, Mich.
Saturday, June 15 | 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Spotlight @ Flint Cultural Center
Longway Planetarium Greenspace
(Between Longway/FIM REP and FIA)
1310 E. Kearsley St. Flint, Mich.
Saturday, June 15 | Noon – 5 p.m.
Flint Small Business Saturday: Juneteenth Edition
Word of Life Christian Church
460 W. Atherton Rd. Flint, Mich.
Saturday, June 15 | 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Juneteenth Celebration sponsored by the Urban Renaissance Center
Centennial Park Pavilion
Chevrolet & Dayton in Flint, Mich.
Sunday, June 16 | 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Freedom Fund Youth Dinner
Sloan Museum of Discovery
1221 E. Kearsley St. Flint, Mich.
Monday, June 17 | 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Financial Literacy Justice
Flushing Professional Suites
G-3163 Flushing Rd. Flint, Mich.
Tuesday, June 18 | 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Legacy & Literacy
Hasselbring Senior Center
1002 Home St. Flint, Mich.
Wednesday, June 19 | 12:15 pm. – 1:30 p.m.
Art á la Carte Film: Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise
Flint Institute of Arts
1120 East Kearsley St. Flint, Mich.
Wednesday, June 19 | Noon
Juneteenth Storytime
Gloria Coles Flint Public Library
1026 East Kearsley St. Flint, Mich.
Wednesday, June 19 | Noon – 4 p.m.
Juneteenth Celebration & Parade
Max Brandon Park
3606 Dupont St. Flint, Mich.
Wednesday, June 19 | 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Afrobeats Party
Riverbank Park
100 Saginaw St. Flint, Mich.
Friday, June 21 | 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
The Black Power Mixtape Concert ft. The Last Poets and special Guest Mama Sōl
Comma Bookstore
132 W. Second St. Flint, Mich.
Tickets are $30 each, available via Eventbrite.
