Community leaders in the Triad are celebrating a decision by Congress to make Juneteenth a national federal holiday. Organizers here have been working hard behind the scenes for years to bring awareness to the day and its significance.
Following 2020's all-virtual events due to COVID-19, this year's Winston-Salem Juneteenth celebration is a hybrid. It continues this week with a pop-up photo exhibit of last summer's Triad-area demonstrations, and this weekend there'll be a wide variety of in-person cultural programs, including live music and foods from Black owned restaurants.
Organizer and Triad Cultural Arts founder Cheryl Harry has worked for more than two decades bringing recognition to African American history and culture. She says the recent federal response was a long time coming, but significant.
"I want to make sure that we not belittle the importance of it being a federal holiday — only the 11th one in the nation," says Harry. "That's important because holidays make us pause and reflect, and look back, and actually be able to plan for the future."
Harry adds there are challenges ahead — including the topic of reparations in some form — and she hopes the recent measure leads to more national dialogue with the goal of moving the country forward. This weekend's Juneteenth festivities are Saturday from noon to 7 at the Innovation Quarter downtown.