JuneteenthOhio WELCOMETOTHEJUNETEENTHOHIOFESTIVIAL

Welcome to the 26th Annual JuneteenthOhio Festival in Columbus Ohio the place where African American history is always being told. One hundred and fifty-seven years ago, our African American ancestors in Galveston Texas celebrated the first Juneteenth Festival in the nation.

General Gordan Granger read official order #3 to the remaining African American captives of Galveston Texas June 19th 1865 Two and a half years earlier President Lincoln signed the emancipation proclamation January 1, 1863 supposedly freeing captives in the rebellious south. The celebratory act became the symbol of all people’s freedom day (African American were not free July 4,1776) June 19th became the date for the All People’s Freedom Day. Historical festival activi- ties included, family gatherings, enjoying great soul food, drinking red pop, singing spiritual hymns, dancing to the rhythms of the drums, story-telling for the children of the mighty Buffalo Soldiers or Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, John Brown, and black inventor stories.

Best regards!

Mustafaa Shabazz , Organizer

Today Juneteenth is a National Holiday and continues to be celebrated in over 250 cities throughout the country Juneteenth has evolved into an annual gathering that gives 40 million African Americans a unified voice Juneteen- thOhio is the 3rd largest celebration in the country symbolizing among us Unity, selfdetermination, cooperative economics, collective work and responsibility, creativity, purpose and faith. Young people and families are indeed experiencing too much confusion and lacking culturaly competent knowledge to calm their storm. Proceeds from the festival will support Factual Literacy initiatives and programs that helps remove or reduce confusing barriers to our children’s knowledge and education of their history

As organizer of the 26th Annual Juneteenth Ohio Festival, We would like to thank our sponsors: Officers of Diverersity and Inclusion, Kemba, Performance Academies, First Common Wealth Bank, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Sheilds, Columbus Black, MYLE, Curb Ball Game, US Bank, Huntingtin Bank, Aetna, Humana, Equitas, McDonalds, GCAC, And Ujamaa Bookstore The Trendsetters Television and News Magazine, Juneteenth Ohio Edition program and resource guide recognizes you for your community support, may your weekend of cultural discovery be as beautiful as you!