On June 19, 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation took effect, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that enslaved people were now free and the war was over. As Emory joins the nation in commemorating Juneteenth, community members reflect on the importance of the holiday in the video posted below.
Amid many trials, African Americans have celebrated Juneteenth to honor their ancestors and mark community resilience. To that end, this year, Emory events and initiatives focus on extending longevity to Black life and culture.
Looking for ways to participate and learn more? Here are a few events, resources and initiatives to look forward to for Juneteenth:
Wellness Panel Discussion with Q&A
June 15th, Noon-1:30 p.m., Virtual
On Thursday, June 15, Noon-1:30 p.m., there will be a virtual panel, “Giving Voice: Cultivating a Culture of Black Wellness,” hosted by the Emory University School of Medicine and the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. During this discussion, contributors will focus on three areas of health: mental, physical and spiritual, followed by a Q&A session. Panelists include Kalisha Bonds Johnson, an assistant professor in the School of Nursing, whose research focuses on African American women as caregivers; Clevevoya Gaston, outreach coordinator for the Faculty Staff Assistance Program, who focuses on cultural diversity in the workplace; and Rev. Tolton Pace 00C 02PH, co-president of the Caucus of Emory Black Alumni.
Community Health Festival
June 17th, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., House of Hope Atlanta
Emory Healthcare is hosting a Juneteenth Community Health Festival on Saturday, June 17, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at House of Hope Atlanta. This all-day event will include health screenings, a farmer’s market, games, giveaways and more. There will be health talks throughout the day with Emory experts addressing several topics such as diabetes prevention, hypertension management, advocating for yourself in the doctor’s office and memory care.
In addition, attendees will be encouraged to take a health pledge to see their provider for a checkup within the next 12 months. Those who take the pledge will be entered for a chance to win tickets to the November 26 Atlanta Falcons football game versus the New Orleans Saints.
Praise House Project
June 18th, 1 p.m.-3 p.m., South-View Cemetery
June 19th, Ongoing, South-View Cemetery
Atlanta artist Charmaine Minniefield will be bringing her Praise House Project to Emory in the fall. The Praise House features videos of people across the African diaspora dancing and singing, projected onto the walls of a small white replica of a 19th-century praise house. Listen to the podcast “Might Could — Stories of Innovation in the ATL,” hosted by Shannon Clute, director of The Hatchery, Center of Innovation at Emory, as he interviews Anne Dennington of Flux Projects and Minniefield about the project. The two recently collaborated on a project to honor more than 800 recently discovered, unmarked African American graves in Atlanta’s Oakland Cemetery.
In addition, on Sunday, June 18, the Praise House Project joins the families of South-View in a celebration of music and performances in honor of the history that rests at this important historic site. Then, on Monday, June 19, audiences can listen to oral history interviews, tour the historic burial grounds and volunteer in community service projects on site and in the surrounding areas.
Read more about Juneteenth at the Emory News Center.
