On Thursday, June 19, the Town of Nantucket’s Culture & Tourism Department, Museum of African American History Boston | Nantucket, Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce, and Nantucket Historical Association will host the 5th annual Juneteenth celebration.
The Origins of Juneteenth
In 2020, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts joined 46 other states and the District of Columbia in officially recognizing Juneteenth’s historical and present-day significance. “A portmanteau of ‘June’ and ‘nineteenth,’ Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when a group of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned that they were free from the institution of slavery,” (Cineas, 2020). By the time the news reached Galveston, President Abraham Lincoln had already issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, General Robert E. Lee had already surrendered, and the ratification process of the 13th Amendment (abolishing slavery) was already underway.
When the news of freedom finally reached East Texas, it was delivered by Major General Gordon Granger in General Orders, Number 3, which partly stated, “The people of Texas are informed that, by a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor.” The first Juneteenth celebrations occurred in 1866 among the formerly enslaved. Since then, festivities have included gatherings of family members, reading the Emancipation Proclamation, barbecues, singing spirituals, and dancing.
2025 Celebration/Schedule of Events
- Location: African Meeting House, 29 York Street
- 11 am – Kezia Duarte
- 11:30 am – 12:10 p.m. – Screening of documentary ‘Nantucket’s Historic Coloured Cemetery: Stories Told by Nantucketers’
- 12 pm – 3 pm – The Block Party on York Street will include games, arts & crafts, live music by Latulippe and E-Cliff and the Swing Dogs, Vendor Marketplace, and food provided by Nantucket Island Creations.
- 12:15 pm – 12:30 pm – Performance by SheSheFoGo
“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.”