Where you can celebrate Juneteenth in N.J. this year – NJ.com

While the Fourth of July is officially Independence Day, many Black Americans recognize June 19 as the true day to celebrate freedom.

That day is known as Juneteenth, a commemoration of when the last slaves in the United States, in Galveston, Texas, received word that they were free.

Though some recognize the Emancipation Proclamation, read on January 1, 1863, as the end of slavery, it didn’t actually end with that document, according to Leslie Wilson, Associate Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Montclair State University.

The Civil War, which was partly fought over slavery, officially ended in April of 1865, following Confederate General Robert E Lee’s surrender. But, there were still armies in the field fighting until the fall of that year, Wilson said. Congress voted on the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, in January of 1865, but the amendment wasn’t fully ratified until December 1865, according to Wilson. New Jersey was the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment.

Because some southern slaveholders weren’t just going to give up those they believed to be their property, the Union Army had to travel south to inform slaves that they were free, Wilson said.

“Juneteenth became the day when the people in the south officially learned that slavery is over,” Wilson said. “The legend is that the ‘teenth’ is because the news (was) delivered on different days to different groups.”

While people have celebrated Juneteenth for years, this year there appears to be increased interest in the holiday, following weeks of social unrest over our country’s uncomfortable history with race.

NJ Advance Media has put together a guide to Juneteenth celebrations in the Garden State, sorted by county. For many of the in-person events, masks and social distancing are required.

Events listed are set for June 19 unless otherwise stated.

If we missed an event, you can fill out this survey.

• Juneteenth Justice Rally (Hackensack) – A rally for racial justice beginning at 5 p.m. at the Bergen County Courthouse. The rally will be hosted by the Bergen County NAACP.

• Juneteenth Tailgate Party (Teaneck) – Smoke N’ Ashes cigar lounge and Verifried Foods will host an outdoor tailgate party at 200 Walraven Drive from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Black-owned cafe, Coffee and Cornbread, is expected to hand out free “swag bags” for attendees.

• Juneteenth Peaceful Protest and a Moment of Silence (Mount Laurel) – This protest and rally will take place at Rowan College at Burlington County. The protest starts at noon.

• Camden Juneteenth (Camden) – This is a motorcade celebration “honoring our ancestors who endured slavery.” Line up begins at noon at 1656 Kaighn Avenue and the motorcade plans to travel to Wiggins Park at 1 p.m.

• Virtual Opening of Harriet Tubman Museum and Walk for Social Justice – This event is part virtual, part in-person. Plans to unveil the new Harriet Tubman Museum in Cape May will air virtually and at Lafayette Street speakers will talk about the museum and the preservation of Black Cultural Heritage Sites. There will also be live music. The event begins at 3 p.m.

• Whitesboro Juneteenth Festival (Whitesboro) – A celebration of freedom hosted by the NAACP Cape May County Chapter and the Township of Middle, this event features food, games, drinks and more. It starts at noon on June 20 at 207 West Main Street.

• A “Drive to Justice” motorcade will be driving through Newark at noon in a demonstration against police brutality that will be coordinated with similar events across the country. The Newark Motorcade begins at 206 Springfield Avenue, then proceeds to Peter Rodino Federal Building, 970 Broad Street; City Hall, 920 Broad Street; Newark Penn Station, Market Street; and Military Park, 633 Broad Street.

• Pan African Flag Raising (Bayonne) – Members of Black in Bayonne and Mayor Jimmy Davis will raise the Pan African Flag outside of Bayonne City Hall at 4 p.m.
• Jersey City events (Jersey City) – A Juneteenth celebration in Jersey City is slated for 12-5 p.m. on MLK Drive, from Kearny Avenue to Bayview Avenue. An event called the Black-Owned Initiative will be held from 2-4 p.m. at City Hall. And a Juneteenth picnic is set for noon at Liberty State Park.

Juneteenth Campout – Hosted by Jackson Cafe, this camping event held at Round Valley State Park on June 20 from 12-8 p.m. The campout will include food, hiking, and a DJ. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for kids.

• Juneteenth Festival and Candlelight Vigil (Glassboro) – Hosted by the Black and Brilliant Events Team, who invite people to bring their tents and picnic blankets and enjoy live entertainment, speakers and free food. It’s all going down at Owen’s Field at 1 p.m.

• Gloucester County NAACP’s First Juneteenth Celebration (Sewell) – This event features live African dance performances, spoken word, music, ice cream, food trucks and more. It happens June 20 from 1-4 p.m. at Rowan College of South Jersey Gloucester Campus.

• Juneteenth Block Party (Princeton) – A celebration of the achievements of Black Americans and a showing of solidarity with the current Black Lives Matter movement. The block party happens on June 18 at 5 p.m. at the Princeton Family YMCA Field.

• Peaceful Protest Rally (Milltown) – This event at Boro Park is hosted by the Mom’s and Daughters of Milltown. According to the event flyer, it will feature spoken word, an open mic session, and sidewalk chalk for drawing. The event is from 1-4 p.m.

• Unity Walk and Rally (Asbury Park) – A march and rally hosted by The Clergy of Jersey Shore. The rally will be held at Springwood Avenue Park. The event lasts from 1-5 p.m.

Amplifying Black Young Voices (Jackson) – This event will have tables for people to register to vote, speakers and performers and Kona ice cream. It happens June 20 from 1-3 p.m. at Johnson Memorial Park.

• Juneteenth Peace March Against Racial Injustice (Paterson) – A march in solidarity with the current protests over racial injustice and police brutality. The rally begins at 9 a.m. on June 20 and starts at the Integrity Masonic Temple.

• Juneteenth Caravan and Movie Night (Elizabeth) – First Republic Restaurant and Lounge will host a caravan and screening of the legal drama “Just Mercy.” The caravan begins at 5:30 p.m. and the movie screening starts at 6:30 p.m outside of the restaurant.
• Jumping For Justice (Plainfield) – Bring your jump rope to participate in a day of playing double dutch, a tradition in the Black community. This event takes place at Plainfield City Hall from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

• Juneteenth Conversations: Rhymes, Lyrics & Rhythmic Dialogues – The Newark Museum is hosting a discussion of rap music and its role in the fight for equality at noon. It will be held over Zoom.
• Thriving While Black – A forum for youth discussing issues related to race and celebrating the resiliency of Black people in American history. The event starts at 12:30 p.m.

• Juneteenth; a Conversation on Economics, Education and Mental Health Awareness – Hosted by the New Brunswick NAACP Chapter, Frontiers International, Plainfield and the NJ Association of Black Social Workers, this virtual event will tackle the aforementioned topics. There will also be libation, healing prayer and live music and poetry. The event will be held on Zoom from 4-6 p.m. You can find the link here.

• Marking Juneteenth: The Ongoing Quest For Freedom in New Jersey – This virtual panel, hosted by the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, will address policing, housing policies, the youth justice system and voting.

Related Stories

I’d lost my culture. Here’s how a DNA kit helped me rediscover my Blackness.

Inside one of N.J.‘s last Black-owned bookstores, where ‘your Black is beautiful’

N.J.‘s only black-owned community bank was closed by the feds. Here’s why.

20 Black-owned N.J. restaurants you need to try in 2020

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Tennyson Donyéa is a Culture, Identity and Diversity Reporter for NJ. He may be reached at tcoleman@njadvancemedia.com.