Juneteenth celebrated
July 7, 2020
Evanston’s first annual Juneteenth parade and celebration took place on June 19, 20, and 27. Kemone Hendricks, the event's planner and owner/founder of Evanston Present and Future, wants Evanston residents to learn the history of Juneteenth and continue to celebrate it each year. “I hope people will remember Juneteenth the same way they remember July 4th. I want people to remember that Juneteenth is America’s real freedom day and to help me ensure that there is a parade in Evanston every year to celebrate freedom and alliance with the black community.”
On June 19, 1865, two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation (on January 1, 1863) which made known all enslaved people were free. Union General, Gordon Granger and approximately 1,800 federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control of the state and enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. Granger read General Order No. 3, which declared in part: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”
Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) is a holiday commemorating this day, which marked the effective end of slavery in the United States. On June 19th, 1865, more than 250,000 slaves were freed. Juneteenth has been made an official holiday in 47 states and the District of Columbia and is celebrated all over the world.
Kemone Hendricks, key planner of Evanston’s Juneteenth parade, is also the owner and founder of Evanston Present and Future. She wants Evanston residents and young children to learn the history of Juneteenth and understand the collaboration that made it happen. “Juneteenth is not taught in schools so it’s important for me to get the youth in Evanston involved. The enslaved people didn’t become free because of the emancipation proclamation, because there were a lot of people who fought to ensure the rebellious states obeyed the law. However, it was a community effort and people of all races stood up for what they believed were right by confronting slave owners.”
Hendricks led this conversation with an air of optimism. “I hope people will remember Juneteenth the same way they remember July 4th. I want people to remember that Juneteenth is America’s real freedom day and to help me ensure that there is a parade in Evanston every year to celebrate freedom and alliance with the black community. I want people to mark June 19th on their calendars as a day of celebration and to remember no one is free until we are all free!”
Hendricks said that partnering with ECF on Juneteenth was a natural connection. “ECF is the largest humanitarian establishment in Evanston. They go above and beyond for everyone in the community to ensure philanthropy is well and alive. In addition, ECF’s CEO is a Black woman and it was important for me to have the involvement of a Black woman who leads philanthropy.”
Evanston's three-day Juneteenth celebration took place on June 19, June 20, and June 27. The celebration included a play directed by Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre’s Artistic Director Tim Rhoze and a classic car parade. The event kicked off on June 19th with a lineup of speakers including ECF’s CEO/President Monique Jones, Mayor Stephen H. Hagerty, Shorefront Legacy Center Founder Dino Robinson, and Alderman Robin Rue Simmons. Alderman Simmons also prepared a Juneteenth Proclamation for Evanston in honor of Hecky Powell. Hecky Powell was the owner and founder of Hecky’s, barbecue master, beloved community member, civic leader of Evanston, and aptly named the “unofficial mayor of Evanston,” by current Mayor Stephen H. Hagerty. Powell died at the age of 71 on May 22, 2020.
For more information on Juneteenth, please visit evanstonsjuneteenthparade.com.
For more information on Evanston Present and Future, please visit them on Facebook.