Juneteenth Concord

ABOUT JUNETEENTH IN CONCORD

The Town of Concord  first honored Juneteenth National Independence Day,  on June 19, 2023. This town supported celebration is a formal recognition of the dignity and importance of this holiday for all residents of Concord and those who visit.

The Concord Select Board signed a proclamation which declared June 19, 2023 Juneteenth National Independence Day. In addition, an amendment to the flag policy was approved which provides for the flying of a Juneteenth flag with the American flag. We invite the Concord community to join us for celebratory events that honor our history and our community.

FAQ

• Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Deriving its name from combining “June” and “nineteenth”, it is celebrated on the anniversary of the order, issued by Major General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, proclaiming freedom for the enslaved in Texas, the last to freed.
• Originating in Galveston, Juneteenth has since been observed annually in various parts of the United States, often broadly celebrating African American culture. The day was first recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act
• Texans celebrated Juneteenth beginning in 1866 with community-centric events, such as parades, cookouts, prayer gatherings, historical and cultural readings, and musical performances. Over time, communities have developed their own traditions. Some communities purchased land for Juneteenth celebrations, such as Emancipation Park in Houston, Texas. As families emigrated from Texas to other parts of the United States, they carried Juneteenth celebrations with them.
• Juneteenth National Independence Day commemorates the day of freedom for African Americans and acknowledges the resilience and determination of African Americans while honoring all those who have paved the road to freedom; and Juneteenth is a second Independence Day for our Nation, a celebratory day of African American culture to recognize the many contributions and influence that the African American community has made to our Nation.
• The Juneteenth flag was designed by activist Ben Haith, the founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation (NJCF) in 1997.  The design was later refined to its current form by illustrator Lisa Jeanne Grafe.  The intentional call back to the Texas Lone Star in the middle represents the Lone Star State and all Black Americans in the US.  The red, white, and blue color scheme is a reminder that enslaved people and their descendants were and are, Americans.  The arc shape represents a new horizon of hope and promise for Black American with the nova surrounding the star representing a new beginning for all.