Macon Makes Juneteenth Bigger Than Ever
By Julia Morrison
This year, Macon celebrates Juneteenth with several days of celebration and observation. The holiday commemorates freedom for Black Americans from centuries of enslavement.
Juneteenth’s namesake is June 19, 1865 – the day Union forces reached the small town of Galveston, Texas with news of the Emancipation Proclamation. Though the order had been signed two and a half years before, slavery continued where Confederate forces remained in many areas of the United States, even after formal Confederate surrender and the official end of the Civil War. Only after these local forces surrendered and enslaved people learned of the new law did the freedmen rejoice. Also called Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, or Jubilee Day, the celebrations have spread across the country since 1866, serving as a symbol of freedom and African American resilience in the face of oppression. Today, Juneteenth is recognized as a federal holiday, marking an important milestone in the ongoing struggle for equality and justice.
Juneteenth was designated as a federal holiday in 2021, but in Macon, it has a much longer history. This year, the Kwanzaa Cultural Access Center and Torchlight Academy will celebrate Macon’s 31st Juneteenth Freedom Festival in Tattnall Square Park, a free event for the community that will take place on June 17 and 18. This year, the event is sponsored by the Macon200 bicentennial celebration, among other community organizations.
The location of the Juneteenth Freedom Festival has historic importance. In Macon, enslaved Black people became freedmen sometime between April 20, 1865 – when Macon was surrendered at Tattnall Square Park to the Union Army – and July 1865 – when a formal proclamation of emancipation was made from the Bibb County courthouse, and the U.S. Freedman’s Bureau arrived to aid formerly enslaved Black people.
The celebration includes music, food and art vendors, activities like Zumba and Pickleball, and the finals of the Juneteenth Africa Spelling Bee. There will be step shows from Divine Nine sorority organizations, Black Union Civil War soldier reenactors, and Father’s Day events like a Father/Son Lookalike Contest. Live music of various genres from neo-soul to hip hop will be presented for audiences.
Storytellers Macon will present stories on “The Spirit of Freedom” as their monthly theme on June 13 at Grant’s Lounge, with featured storytellers curated by Ansley Booker and the opportunity for anyone to tell a five minute story.
The Real Talk Hip Hop Summit, an annual event organized by Vinson Muhammad, will bring together education and discussion on real-world issues together with the language of hip-hop at the Douglass Theatre on June 16.
And this year, a Juneteenth Parade and Black Family Reunion will take place downtown for the first time on Monday, June 19, organized by a new group called Macon Black Culture. Muse Dixon is one of the main organizers of the parade, along with other Macon Black Culture founders Nadiyah Harris, Brandon Harris, and Marshal Talley. Dixon believes the Juneteenth celebrations in Macon will “put a spotlight on Black excellence in our city.” They are partnered with the aforementioned organizers of the Juneteenth festival in Tattnall Square Park, like George Fadil Muhammad, as well as Macon-based nonprofit Barbers on Duty.
Dixon thinks the parade has symbolic importance: “It is to honor the ancestors who built this city and planted seeds here. The parade is to show the blossoming of those seeds. We are our ancestors’ wildest dreams, and it’s important to show that we’re making that dream a reality.”
Dixon adds that the parade and other events in town will also be used to educate the community and commemorate the origins of the holiday.
The parade route will be led by Grand Marshal Bud Dupree and includes a press event at Rosa Parks Square at 10 a.m. before the parade kicks off at 11 a.m. The parade journey includes landmarks that honor Black history, like The Tubman Museum, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Otis Redding Foundation, and Grant’s Lounge. The route travels down Poplar Street to acknowledge the solemnity of where slave markets were once held.
“We want the youth to see there are people who look just like them – and come from the same places they come from – who are thriving. We hope to inspire the youth to know their worth and see what options their future can hold.” Dixon also believes that highlighting Black-owned businesses could lead to increased business for them.
In Cherry Street Plaza and at the Tubman Museum, celebratory events will take place all afternoon, including family-friendly entertainment, a spades competition, and the 2nd annual Soul Food Competition, started last year at Mill Hill Community Arts Center before moving into the Juneteenth celebration.
“Most importantly, bring an open mind and whatever you do, don’t leave the love at home,” Dixon says.
The 411: Parade notes
Parade attendees should bring:
- Collapsible chairs to watch the parade if needed
- Summer comfort items like sunscreen and a fan
- Money for market and food vendors in Cherry Street Plaza
- A giving heart! Donations to Macon Black Culture will be used to fund youth enrichment camps run by Barbers on Duty.
To learn more and join in on a Juneteenth event, visit juneteenthmacon.com or email MaconJuneteenthParade@gmail.com.
