ABOUT THE ANNAPOLIS JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

The mission of the Annapolis Juneteenth Celebration is to commemorate the emancipation of the last enslaved Africans in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived to Galveston, Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. Although the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued over two years prior, the news was withheld from many enslaved Africans. Today, we celebrate the freedom and continued legacy of resistance, empowerment, and community building.

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This year's theme is "Land of the Free, Home of the Brave". Our focus is Generation Z and the need to protect the right to vote, the call for social and restorative justice, and the need for a next generation of free voices in America. Through music, art, education, and storytelling, we will emphasize the importance of the younger generations. They must have voice and a vote in order to have a future. We will highlight and celebrate their accomplishments along with giving voice to their concerns. I look forward to every presentation, vendor, sponsor, and non-profit organization empowering the Black family! We must unshackle ourselves, rename ourselves, and celebrate our journey from enslavement to liberation!

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Reflectively,

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Bishop Craig N. Coates, Chief Executive Officer

Celebrate Annapolis Juneteenth Corporation