This Thursday, June 19 a collaboration of Nantucket organizations are hosting an island gathering to memorialize and honor Juneteenth. The block party at the African Meeting House, 29 York Street, runs from 11 am to 3 pm and will include music, a documentary screening, games, arts & crafts, food, and more.
Juneteenth, known by some as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is a holiday to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. Specifically, it marks the day in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that the Civil War had ended and all remaining enslaved people were free—more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.
This Thursday’s event is hosted by the Town of Nantucket’s Culture & Tourism Department, Museum of African American History Boston|Nantucket (MAAH), Nantucket Chamber of Commerce, and the Nantucket Historical Association. “Juneteenth is a day of celebration that honors the numerous emancipation days around the country. We are honored to partner with the Town, Chamber of Commerce, and the Nantucket Historical Association for a unifying day of history and celebration,” said Dr. Noelle Trent, President & CEO of the Museum of African American History (MAAH).
“These events promise to be informative and engaging,” said Shantaw Bloise-Murphy, Director of Culture & Tourism for the Town of Nantucket. “As a community, we have the opportunity to acknowledge the journey and achievements of African Americans and come together in celebration. We look forward to a day of fun, learning, and civic engagement.”
Starting at 11 am, local musician Kezia Duarte will play the saxophone. From 11:30 am to 12:10 pm the documentary Nantucket’s Historic Coloured Cemetery: Stories Told by Nantucketers will be screened. Following the documentary, SheShe Fogo will perform.
From noon till 3 pm, the block party will continue with food, games, arts and crafts, live music by Latulippe and E-Cliff and the Swing Dogs, and a marketplace.
This Juneteenth event is rain or shine. Due to very limited parking close to the African Meeting House at 29 York Street, participants may consider walking from downtown or taking the NRTA’s free mid-island bus that leaves from the Greenhound Building on Washington Street every 30 minutes.