Commemorating the ending of slavery in the U.S., the Juneteenth celebration was started on June 19, 1865. Major General Gordon Granger landed at Galveston, Texas to announce the news that slavery had been abolished. Once this was announced, the reactions of pure shock and jubilation sparked a huge event that became an official holiday in 1980.
Manhattan held their annual Juneteenth celebration June 15th and 16th in City Park. The celebration featured a basketball tournament, a parade, numerous vendors, live entertainment, a guest speaker, and much much more.
When Monique King agreed to be the event coordinator for this event, she knew it was important to feature a variety of ethnicities and cultures. Some of the entertainment invited to perform included a Spanish salsa dance lesson and an African American step show.
The event concluded Saturday evening with entertainment provided by the Daddy Mack Blues Band.
