Juneteenth Celebration at ASF — Lifting Up Black Voices

Commemorated annually on June 19, “Juneteenth” is the oldest known celebration of the end of slavery in the US.

The Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln declared all persons held as slaves in the United States would be freed on January 1, 1863. However, most slaves in Texas were unaware of their freedom until after the Civil War ended. On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston to inform the people of Texas that all slaves were free.

Juneteenth celebrations began in Galveston in 1886, with parades, prayer, singing, and readings from the proclamation.

ASF celebrates Juneteenth 2022 by celebrating Black American playwrights. We ask visitors to reflect on these three questions:

• Who will tell your story?
• How do you want to be remembered?
• What can you do to make a difference this freedom day?

Join us in celebrating and reflecting upon this important annual holiday by visiting our Juneteenth outdoor installation on ASF’s great lawn through July 5, 2022. The panels located on our gorgeous grounds in Blount Cultural Park.

We invite you to tour Lifting Up Black Voices, located on our gorgeous grounds in Blount Cultural Park.