Northwest Juneteenth 2014 Celebrations Begin This Weekend

Juneteenth’s roots go back 149 years to June 19, 1865. That was the date Buffalo Soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas to inform enslaved people in the city, that they had technically been free American citizens since President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. It took two and a half years for the news to reach some parts of the South.

SEATTLE

Central Area International Juneteenth Celebration 2014 is dedicated to the memory of Maya Angelou.  It will run from Friday June 6 through Sunday June 8 at Pratt Park 1800 S Main St. Seattle.

The African American community at High Point is planning a big celebration from  2-6 pm Sunday, June 22, 2014 at The Neighborhood House High Point Center, 6400 Sylvan Way SW. Find entertainment, spoken word, and soul food at this Black American celebration.

TACOMA

Tacoma’s Juneteenth Committee invites you to celebrate from  1p.m., Saturday, June  7 at Bethlehem Baptist Church, 4818 E. Portland Ave., Tacoma.  Free hot dogs for children aged 12 years and under.  Vendors, food, fun, raffles, entertainment and guest speakers.

PORTLAND

PHOTO: Clara Peoples at right enjoys the Juneteenth celebration in Portland

Clara Peoples a Kaiser shipyards worker started the Oregon celebration in 1944. It began as a lunchtime announcement but has now become a daylong celebration which attracts hundreds.

Juneteenth 2014 will celebrate 149 years  of freedom, 11a.m.- 9p.m.,  Saturday June 21. The celebration starts with the Clara Peoples Parade which sets out at 11 a.m. from Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. at N. Jarrett St. The parade will walk to Legacy Emanuel Field on N. Williams Ave and  N. Graham St.  Attractions include childrens activities, a marketplace, music and food. For more info contact [email protected] or call 503-235-8079. Visit the Juneteeth website at  http://www.juneteenthoregon.com/

ASHLAND

Oregon Shakespeare Festival will present a concert reading about Hurricane Katrina as part of the Ashland Juneteenth celebration. Ameriville starts at noon, Monday, June 23 in the Angus Bowmer Theatre. A free family friendly pre-show starts at 11 a.m. in the festival courtyard. This family-friendly performance with OSF company members will involve live music, dance and physical art

Using Hurricane Katrina as a jumping-off point, Ameriville fuses hip-hop, poetry, flamenco, standup comedy, music and spoken word. UNIVERSES weaves this electrifying 90-minute theatrical exploration of race, class, poverty, immigration and political awareness into a great adventure about what it means to be American. Tickets are $25 for non-OSF members, $20 for members and $10 for youth. To purchase tickets or find out more information about Ameriville, please visit www.osfashland.org/osf-presents or call 800-219-8161.