Celebrate Juneteenth Across the Greater Lynchburg Region
Written by Carrie Eobbi, Liberty University Intern
As we enter into the month of June, we celebrate the history of Juneteenth in a place that signifies the beginning of an end. Appomattox, Virginia has a unique connection to Juneteenth as it was the location of the first set of enslaved people that were freed on April 9, 1865.
Roscoe Simmons, who is the nephew of Booker T. Washington, was a columnist for the historical Black newspaper Chicago Tribune and wrote in 1924 that slavery began and ended in Virginia and viewed Appomattox as a place of salvation for African-Americans.
Juneteenth is a special holiday on June 19th that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. The Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery on January 1st, 1863 but the last group of enslaved people were not freed until June 19th, 1865 in Galveston, TX. We celebrate Juneteenth to honor the freedom of all people in the US.
Appomattox for Equality is excited to celebrate their 4th Juneteenth Celebration on Friday, June 16th from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Watkins Abbitt Park. This event is a continuation of celebrating Freedom Day in Appomattox.
Joetricia Humbles, the Lead Agent for Appomattox for Equality, tells us that their celebration is a free family-friendly event held to connect history, celebration, and community.
Another exciting Juneteenth event being held in our community is the “Rock and Reel: Monticello’s Folk Traditions” performance showcasing the musical talents, storytelling gifts & achievements of enslaved people of Monticello. The family-friendly event will take place on Friday, June 16, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. at Court Street Baptist Church.
David R. McCormick, the Artistic Director of Early Music America, explains that, “Rock & Reel is an incredible opportunity to connect with our local history in a fun way while celebrating the accomplishments of Black fiddlers associated with Monticello. Artists from all over the country are coming to Lynchburg to bring this music to life. We are pleased to partner with Amherst Glebe Arts Response, Inc. (AGAR) for this concert, one of just a handful of classical music presenters in this area.”
To learn more about these Juneteenth events and more, visit SHARE Greater Lynchburg.