Special to the Herald

Since its inaugural event in 2017, Lucy Powell has always believed that there are two aspects of the event -- education about Juneteenth and celebration of the freedom that it brought.

At first, Powell taught members of the Effingham County NAACP about Juneteenth and why all African-Americans should celebrate it. Now the event is both educational and celebratory.

The public is invited to a free Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom on June 17 on the campus of the Springfield Central High School, 434 Wallace Dr., Springfield, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The event is hosted by the Effingham County NAACP.

There will be events both inside the building and outside.

The principle speakers are Servant Emannu’el, Deacon Willie Wright, deacon at Eden Missionary Baptist Church; and Dr. Torian White, principal of South Effingham High School. Servant Emannu’el, Deacon Wright, and Dr. White will discuss the history of African-Americans from the days before enslavement through emancipation, Reconstruction, Jim Crow era, and the civil rights era.

In addition to events inside the building, food trucks, vendors, and children’s activities will be available outside.

For more information about renting a vendor space, contact Cloyce Gardner at 912-484-4587. Funds raised from booth rentals will benefit the Effingham County NAACP.

History of Juneteenth

On Jan. 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln pronounced the executive order, known as the Emancipation Proclamation, in the midst of the American Civil War.

Lincoln announced that "henceforth all slaves in the rebellious (Confederacy) states shall be free."

Many branches of the NAACP, including the Effingham County Branch, celebrate the Emancipation Proclamation annually on Jan. 1. As the Civil War was ongoing, that order needed reinforcement. It wasn’t until 18 months later, on June 19, 1865, that Union soldiers informed slaves in Texas that they had been "freed" by the Emancipation Proclamation. Certainly, the “freed” slaves celebrated their newly found freedom.

That celebration in Texas was the first Juneteenth celebration.

It remained largely an African-American celebration in Texas. Over the years, slowly but surely, the celebration spread, most especially in the South, and now, in 2023, the celebration by African-Americans is seen even in Northern states.

In 2021 President Joe Biden declared Juneteenth a national holiday.

For additional information about the Effingham County NAACP Juneteenth celebration, contact Powell at 912-772-3515.