DETROIT (WXYZ) — The Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was signed into law on June 17, 2021 by President Joe Biden, making Juneteenth a federally-recognized holiday in the United States.
Juneteenth is the oldest national celebration of the ending of slavery in the United States. For millions of African Americans, the holiday is a time to celebrate freedom, legacy and achievements earned in the more than 400 years since the start of chattel slavery.
The Emancipation Proclamation, signed into law on January 1, 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln, declared "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free."
The document, however, only applied to states that had not seceded from the Union making the law exempt in Confederate states, including enslaved African Americans in some Confederate territories, like Galveston, Texas.
On June 19, 1865, more than two-years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, and as the country faced the third year of the Civil War, Union Army Commander Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3, informing the people of Texas that all enslaved people were free.
June 19, the day Granger and more than 2,000 of his troops arrived in Galveston was named Juneteenth, a combination of June and 19th, marking the first day slavery was abolished for all.
In commemoration of the 157th anniversary of Juneteenth, here is a list of events throughout metro Detroit. If you have any additional events you'd like to add, please email news@wxyz.com.
Bloomfield Hills
Juneteenth – Free Gallery Admission at Cranbrook Art Museum
June 19 - 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Cranbrook Art Museum
39221 Woodward Ave, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303
Dearborn
2nd Annual Juneteenth Mobility Stroll and Roll
June 16-18
City Hall Artspace
13615 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI 48126
Dearborn Heights Juneteenth Festival
June 19 - 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Richard A. Young Recreation Center
5400 McKinley Street, Dearborn Heights, MI 48125
Detroit
1st Annual Camp Ward & Black Bottom Juneteenth Celebration
Jun 18 - noon to 5 pm
Coleman Young Park - Green Space
2751 Robert Bradby Drive, Detroit, MI, USA
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History - Juneteenth Jubilee Freedom Weekend
June 18-19
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
315 East Warren Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
Note: Due to precautions surrounding COVID-19, The Wright will be offering both online and in-person events, including presentations that span a range of topics and activities.
Detroit/Downriver A. Philip Randolph Institute - 2022 Juneteenth Celebration
June 18 - 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
UAW local 600
10550 Dix Avenue, Dearborn, MI, 48120
Juneteenth Celebration
Jun 19-20
Artist Village Detroit, 17336 Lahser Road, Detroit, United States
Juneteenth Celebration Community Give Back Party
June 18th - 12:00pm to 3:00pm
Wesley Chapel
1807 Concord Detroit, MI 48207
Juneteenth Community Pancake Breakfast
June 18 - 9:00 am - noon
Oak Grove AME Church
19801 Cherrylawn, Detroit, MI 48221
Juneteenth Detroit Festival
June 11-20
*Various locations throughout metro Detroit. Please check https://www.juneteenthindetroit.com/events/ for details.
Juneteenth Exhibition Opening
June 18, 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Artist Talk at 2:00 pm
N'Namdi Center For Contemporary Art
52 East Forest Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
Juneteenth Freedom Fest
June 19 - 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Eastern Market Shed 5
2810 Russell Street Detroit, MI 48207
*To sign up to volunteer, click here.
Juneteenth Fun, Food and Family Marketplace Celebration
June 19 - noon to 8:00 pm
Marygrove College
8425 W. McNichols Road,Detroit, MI 48221
2nd Annual Juneteenth Symposium
June 15-18
Hosted by University of Michigan and Ann Arbor NAACP
In-person and virtual
To register, click here.
Pre-Juneteenth screening of “Summer of Soul”
June 16 - 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Campus Martius
800 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226
“Reading Opens the World” Juneteenth Celebration
June 17 - 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Fellowship Chapel
7707 W. Outer Drive, Detroit, MI 48235
Recovery United "A Juneteenth Blockclub Extravaganza"
June 18 - 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm
1851 West Grand Blvd., Detroit MI 48208
Wayne State University Juneteenth Opening Celebration
Jun 13 - 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm
5221 Gullen Mall, Detroit, MI 48202
Farmington Hills
Farmington Area Juneteenth Celebration
June 17-19
Nardin Park United Methodist
29887 W. Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI
Ferndale
Juneteenth Datenight
June 19 - 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Painting With A Twist
200 West 9 Mile Rd, Ferndale, MI 48220
Inkster
Juneteenthevent hosted by Weslyn Bennett Foundation
June 18 - noon to 2:00 pm
Leanna Hicks Public Library in
2500 Hamlin Drive, Inkster, MI 48141
Madison Heights
Madison Heights Juneteenth Celebration
June 18 - noon to 6:00 pm
Madison Heights Civic Center
360 W 13 Mile Rd, Madison Heights, MI 48071
Novi
Unity in the Community Juneteenth Celebration
June 18 - 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Novi Public Library
45255 West 10 Mile Road, Novi, MI 48375
Plymouth
Curators of our Art: a Juneteenth Celebration
June 15 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Plymouth District Library
223 South Main St, Plymouth, MI
Romulus
Annual Juneteenth Community Celebration at Coleman Center
June 18 - 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Coleman Center
352351 Beverly Road, Romulus, MI
Royal Oak
Royal Oak Juneteenth Celebration
June 19 - 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Centennial Commons
Troy and Third Streets, Royal Oak, MI 48067
Troy
Juneteenth Celebration Kit at Troy Public Library in Troy
June 12-19
Troy Public Library
510 West Big Beaver Road, Troy, MI 48084
Westland
Juneteenth Heritage Celebration Day
June 18 - noon to 4:00 pm
Nankin Mills Park
33275 Edward Hines Drive, Westland, MI 48185
