When President Joe Biden signed the bill to make Juneteenth a National holiday it was just in time for the Kickoff of Juneteenth especially in Detroit! Originally Juneteenth was always celebrated In Texas, and even across heavily populated areas of the south as early in the early 1950’s and 1960’s but all of sudden it wasn’t there anymore however never in Galveston, Texas. Many people of color didn’t actually know exactly what Juneteenth was actually was about until recent years, and for some the last year. So before we go any further let’s discuss what Juneteenth is about!
On June19,1865 two months after Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox, VA. Union General arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved African Americans (whom were the last to know they were free) that they were free, and that the civil war was over! Juneteenth became recognized first by the state of Texas in 1980 , and 15 other states followed. So why the blackest city Detroit was not part of that list?
Upon learning amount Juneteenth I was around 18 I am now 48 that really disturbed me so was learning about not just Black Wallstreet but many black cities that we had prior. I took a survey my parents are originally from West Virginia, and they stated it was celebrated in the schools and they went all out for Juneteenth. Then with the civil rights movement it just stopped all of sudden.
It disturbed me that there was not one Juneteenth celebration in the city of Detroit home of Motown, Aretha Franklin, and played major roles in the Underground Railroad and Civil Rights area didn’t celebrate the freedom of the Black Family. Then about 3 years ago a young lady by the name of Sharea Ayershad had same thoughts and started the Juneteenth Jubilee. She started the first event at Charles H. Wright Museum of African Arts and it was a Major hit. The Pandemic made her think outside the box but it was switched to online and the popularity grew!
Now that more people have gotten the vaccination things are opening up Juneteenth was in full swing! This time because of the George Floyd more people wanted to celebrate Juneteenth, and why not do it on Detroit Historic Avenue of Fashion! The Avenue of fashion is one of the largest shopping districts in the country was around long before malls came into existence. It was very impressive to see people celebrating Juneteenth all over the city but the Avenue of Fashion was one of the biggest of them all!
The Avenue of fashion was lit up there was a Pod cast going on, a health Hub, a market place for local vendors who don’t have a brick and mortar yet, and of course the black businesses full of discounts! The Juneteenth Jubilee jump started the Avenue Of Fashion that experienced several hits in the past 2 years major construction lasted longer the. Expected forced many to close but many were able to wiggle out of it with grants. The pandemic hit which was another blow however with the grants such as the PPP loan and other grants many were able to survive, and the Avenue Of Fashions no thriving again the Juneteenth is an event that will be a “Black Fourth Of July” celebrated indefinitely.