Juneteenth In Birmingham: What To Do, What To Know

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Friday is Juneteenth, a celebration of the end of slavery in the United States, which takes on a special significance amid the mass protests demanding racial justice seen in the country over the last few weeks. And in Birmingham, plenty of events are scheduled to celebrate the occasion.

Also called Emancipation Day, Juneteenth marks the day black slaves learned that President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Most slaves did not receive word of Lincoln's action until more than two years later in June 1865, hence the name Juneteenth.

Here are a few of the events scheduled in and around Birmingham:

• Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is hosting its annual Juneteeth Festival from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the adjacent Kelly Ingram Park downtown. The free event will include a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, music, poetry, face painting, moon walks from children, a Greek stroll off for sororities/fraternities and a line dance contest.
• The BirminG-Q 2020 Juneteenth Celebration, billed as a citywide barbecue peace rally, will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at East Lake Park.
• A Juneteenth Virtual Spoken Word Event is being presented at noon Friday on Facebook Live by the Black Magic Project in conjunction with the Magic City Poetry Festival and Reckon by AL.com. Featured voices include Salaam Green Shaunteka LaTrese, Michael Harriot, Frankie Allen, Jahman Hill and Eric Marable Jr.; hosted by Ashley M. Jones with featured rhythm performance by drummer Yogi Dada.
• Alabama Rally Against Injustice is hosting a march starting at noon Friday in Kelly Ingram Park “as part of a nationwide March and effort to commemorate George Floyd and Juneteenth.”