Children are flying down a large inflatable slide in Bayard Park in Evansville. The park is alive with music, food and vendor stalls for this Juneteenth Block Party put on by the EVV Juneteenth Community Committee.
Ken Poe is here watching two of his nephews play in the slide.
“It's a fun time for everybody just to be together, to come together,” he said. “Have a great time, have great food, great drinks … enjoy this day of celebration of coming together.”
This is the second year as a Federal holiday for Juneteenth. It celebrates the day in 1865 when 250,000 African American slaves were freed by US government troops in Galveston, Texas. While the Emancipation Proclamation was signed Jan. 1 of 1863, the news spread slowly.
This celebration is intended to highlight black-owned businesses and important community organizations, said EVV Juneteenth Community Committee member Veltra Taylor.
“(It allows) the community an opportunity to shop with them and support them to kind of see and learn more about what they're about.”
Businesses include Pee Wee’s Food truck and Easy Cuisine. Non-profit organizations included Sterling Club, Evansville Chess Club and Evansville Black Chamber of Commerce.
One community organization is the Tri-State Children's Choir, where educator and co-founder Leta Summers is selling Juneteenth-themed red, black and green beaded jewelry.
She estimates they already sold up to 400 jewelry pieces, which she said helps fund their programs.
“When the children come they receive nutritious snacks,” she said. “Music education goes hand in hand with just stimulation of the brain and we encourage them to learn this.”
Another staple of Juneteenth is celebrating the talent of the community, which includes live performances.
Shelby Williams is performing her original song “Ride or Die.” Before her was prolific local rapper NeRo AnGelo, with an entire set of his own.
“Juneteenth, to me, represents a day where we are where everybody got an opportunity to start at the same place where we all got a chance to realize the dream of freedom,” said Philip Baker, Community EVV committee member.
“I believe it needs to be as common as the fourth of July. I believe that it is growing year after year. A lot of people are aware of it, at least by title, but not by meaning. And I think that's what needs to grow. People need to understand that it's not a black holiday, that this is an American holiday, that this is something for all of us to be proud of, and all of us to represent. Just like the Fourth of July.”
Juneteenthis being celebrated in part with the annual Evansville Otters Negro League Tribute Game.
This tribute game is a partnership between the Evansville African American Museum, and the team, who will be playing in historic Negro League uniforms.
Museum Executive Director Kori Miller said facts about the league will be shared throughout the evening.
“You know, because as African American Museum, we provide history about the past and the Negro Leagues were created because they weren't allowed to play in the (Major League Baseball).”
Ivy Tech Evansville is holding a Juneteenth Vender Fair on the main campus from 11 a.m to 2 p.m.
Most of the local Juneteenth events were actually prior to Wednesday — such as Juneteenth on the Ohio River in Owensboro, a block Party in Evansville and a celebration in Henderson.
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