June 19th marks the sixth nationally-recognized Juneteenth. It commemorates that day in 1865, 2-1/2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation and over a month after the last battle of that hard, bloody war, when the last Black American slaves in Galveston, TX were finally set free. For many, the holiday celebrates our Nation’s ability to confront its immoralities and more fully realize its founding principles. For others, it’s much more personal.
The National Museum of African American History & Culture offers a rich history of the celebration. Juneteenth has been celebrated in black communities since 1866, starting as church gatherings. Prior, beginning in 1863, there were “Watch Night Services” praying for the day to come. Modern celebrations include street fairs, parades, concerts, and, yes, still lots of prayer. In 2021, Juneteenth was finally recognized as a federal holiday.
Another good way to honor this day is to study history, and to reflect on how, while Juneteenth itself recalls a moment of triumph worthy of celebration, humans remain human. We still struggle to see, learn from and honor each other. The pursuit of “a more perfect union” remains an ongoing project that requires ongoing care.
We think it’s also important to note that, even in the darkest of times, all sorts of folks have given it their best to overcome all sorts of stuff in order to make things better for everyone. This happens more than we might realize, and often in places we might not expect. None of us can heal things alone. We all have a lot to learn. May we gratefully reinforce all who give it their best to advance civil rights and otherwise endeavor to more fully realize the acknowledgment and admonishment entailed by our nation’s Declaration of Independence that, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
We are also grateful for folks who have long worked to capture and uplift stories focused on the unique history of local Black Americans. In the Town of Huntington, for example, these range from more prominent folks like the first Black American Published Poet, Jupiter Hammon and renowned author and orator Booker T. Washington, to Greenlawn’s famously entrepreneurial “Pickle King,” Samuel Ballton, to artifacts of sometimes unclear origin that share stories of life as a Black American throughout our local history. Here’s a fascinating lecture on slavery in Huntington offered here by Town Historian Robert C. Hughes, and a CBS report on an archaeological dig at the Peter Crippen House.
All testify to the determination of the human spirit to preserve culture and rise above, despite great challenges that continued well after Juneteenth and into today.
Here are a few upcoming events that endeavor to do the same:
Juneteenth Jubilee in Valley Stream
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will hold its second annual Juneteenth Jubilee. The event will feature cultural entertainment, cultural food, information booths, interactive activities, children’s games, children’s inflatables, and more!
The Long Island Nets will be hosting a FREE special basketball clinic for children ages 7 to 14 on the newly upgraded basketball courts. Registration is still open. There will also be a special welcome address from Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages highlighting the importance of the Juneteenth Holiday and what it means to celebrate Black freedom. This year’s program is sponsored by NY Life and Sunrun.
When: Friday, June 19, 2026. 12-4pm,
Where: Valley Stream State Park
Fee: There is an $8 Vehicle Use Fee. Event activities are FREE
Basketball Camp! Youth ages 7-14 are invited to join the Long Island Nets for a free Basketball Academy Clinic from 1-3pm. Registration is required for the basketball clinic.
Long Island Authors at the Walt Whitman Birthplace
Long Island Author Cheryl Williams is again collaborating with the Walt Whitman Birthplace Museum to Celebrate Juneteenth.
The event is free and open to the public. Come be inspired by poetry and spoken word centered on the story of Liss and enjoy beautiful saxophone renditions from Carl Bartlett as they “Celebrate History, Honor Freedom. Embrace Culture.” Enjoy a merch stand, a food truck and delicious complimentary cupcakes.
When: Friday June 19, 5-7pm
Where: The Walt Whitman Birthplace, 246 Old Walt Whitman Rd, Huntington Station
Juneteenth Jubilee at the Cathedral of the Incarnation
Join the Episcopal Diocese of LI in a celebration of scholarship and justice at this Juneteenth Jubilee. There, the Rt. Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano will present scholarships to those selected for the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island’s Barbara C. Harris Scholars Program. These $5,000 awards are presented to carefully selected college and vocational/technical students who are the descendants of enslaved people and who have exhibited exceptional academic excellence and dedicated themselves to creating a more just world through to their communities.
The Diocese invites you to join us for this celebration of scholarship and justice:
When: June 20, 2026 from 11am-1pm
Where: Cathedral of the Incarnation, 50 Cathedral Ave, Garden City.
To Register: While the event is free and open to the public, registration is required
Long Island's Biggest Juneteenth Cultural Celebration and Father's Day Marketplace
In an endeavor to bring together culture, community and small business, the Black Legacy Partners and NAACP Hempstead Branch present “Long Island’s Largest Juneteenth Cultural Festival.” This will include a Father’s Day Weekend Marketplace showcasing “black-owned brands, gifts and experiences for dads.”
