- DC residents have been commemorating Juneteenth long before it became a federal holiday in 2021.
- The DC Council is considering a bill to set up a commission to coordinate annual Juneteenth events and educational programs throughout the year.
- “It is a national holiday for all Americans, not just Black people,” said one Juneteenth event organizer.
WASHINGTON – Charles Hicks, known as “Mr. Black History,” remembers hosting Juneteenth events in the 1980s at the main public library in the heart of downtown.
The event showcased poetry, music, panel discussions and activities helping Black residents trace their family history. It started with about 15 people, but over the years grew to as many as 300 packed in the library’s lobby.