Boston celebrated Juneteenth with flag raisings, parades and numerous other events throughout the city on Monday.
The holiday marks the day in 1865 enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they had been freed, two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
The day started in Boston with an event at the JFK Library in Dorchester at 10:30 a.m., followed by a flag-raising ceremony at the historic Dillaway-Thomas House at noon, and then after that, the main event -- the second annual Juneteenth Parade. The mile-and-a-half route began at Roxbury Heritage Park and continued past the Roxbury Library at Nubian, down to Nubian Square, then onto Walnut Avenue before ending at the National Center for Afro-American Artists.
Event organizers invited everyone to show up to the parade to honor the legacies of martyrs, heroes and ancestors by lifting up photos and names along the parade route.
At the historic Dillaway-Thomas house, the city raised a Juneteenth flag, designed by Ben Haith.
“It feels like a reward. It’s like I was here for many years, through difficult time and to see everybody here like this, I have a lot to take back with me,” said Haith.
For Sheila Gunn, this red, white and blue flag represents freedom.
“It’s about us and it’s for us. We weren’t really a part of the July 4th Independence day celebration. at that time, we were not free to celebrate,” said Gunn. “This celebration, Juneteenth, is about freedom so I’m here to celebrate.”
Roxbury celebrated with a parade beginning at the Dillaway-Thomas house and passing through Nubian Square, by the Malcom X house to the Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists.
The event’s first Miss Juneteenth, 19-year-old Choice McCarty, took part in the parade.
“To celebrate my Blackness and my heritage it’s a beautiful honor,” said McCarty, who wore an African-style dress and a tiara on her natural hair.
The parade was joyful with performance from a local youth dance group and a live band.
Reflecting on the nation’s history, Gunn said she is hopeful.
“My hope is really about the younger generation. I see them as the answer to changing the situation that we’re in today, said Gunn. “I see this younger generation as being the catalyst for making the change for the better.”
The historic date has been celebrated for years, but it was only two years ago that the federal government officially recognized Juneteenth as a holiday.
“We need to make sure we get this history in the schools, we need to know the truth, we need to teach our children and the next generation the truth so that they know how to proceed and move forward from here,” said Angie Dickerson, who participated in the parade.
The theme of this year’s Juneteenth celebration is “Honoring our Martyrs and Heroes.” The event displayed posters of Black Historical figures such as Crispus Attucks and Rosa Parks. The Juneteenth Committee also recognized two young people for their civic engagement in the community.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey led a separate flag-raising ceremony at the State House at 10:45 a.m.
