About Juneteenth
On June 19th, 1865, enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned about the end of the civil war and more importantly, their freedom, nearly two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. In commemoration of this day, Juneteenth (a combination of June and 19) was born.
Taking many different forms, Juneteenth is celebrated on this day in recognition of the formal end of slavery in the United States and to honor the culture and contributions of Black and African Americans across history.
Celebrating in Kalamazoo
Local organizations have hosted Juneteenth celebrations for years, and this year the tradition continues. On June 17, 18 and 19, join several local groups and leaders in the Kalamazoo community in celebration of Juneteenth.
We’re proud to participate in the greater Kalamazoo Community Juneteenth Celebrations. For more information on all of the events happening, check out this article from Second Wave Media.
Juneteenth Celebration in Bronson Park
On Saturday, June 18, we’re taking part and supporting Rootead’s Juneteenth Celebration in Bronson Park. Find more info on their Facebook event.
Eccentric Café Celebration
We will be hosting an event at the Eccentric Café on Sunday, June 19 from noon to 4 p.m. DC & The DC Quintet, along with DJ Boogie, will take the stage at 2pm. DC & The DC Quintet features hip hop vocalist & spoken word artist Kandace “DC” Lavender and musicians Bruce Anderson, Brandon Fitzpatrick, Ben Crino, Glenn McFarland and Jonathan Chawanangwa Chitaya. Together, they are known to bring electrifying performances to stages in the Midwest. Through a combination of original works, and classic covers, DC & The DC Quintet hope to get you dancing on your feet and leave you feeling inspired. For more info, check out our event page and Facebook event.
We will also be releasing Seneca Village, a beer originally designed and brewed by our Black and African American coworkers. It will be available on tap and in six packs.
While we celebrate, we also realize the work that still needs to be done to address race-based violence and discrimination in our society. We hope you join us and participate in events in your community and support organizations that celebrate, honor and amplify the voices of Black and African Americans.
