Town of Hamilton Inaugural Juneteenth Ceremony

Images of Abolitionists and other heroes as we strive toward the goal of social justice for all………

Art and blog by Barbara A. Smith, Concerned Hamilton Citizen and Activist Blogger for transparency in government.. at Hamilton Wenham Liberals for Democracy

https://www.facebook.com/HWdemocrats/

During the 2020 pandemic year I was inspired to create drawings, collages and words that reflect emotions evoked by 400 years of cruelty toward African Americans and demands for social justice. This year Hamilton residents gathered at Patton Park to celebrate Juneteenth.

What is Juneteenth?

A holiday celebrated on the 19 th of June to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the US. The holiday was first celebrated in Texas, where on that date in 1865, in the aftermath of the Civil War, slaves were declared free under the terms of the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation.

I first came across a Juneteenth celebration several years ago while walking at the Willows Park in Salem, Massachusetts. My husband and I found ourselves on a beautiful sunny day surrounded by African Americans enjoying picnics, barbecues, children running and laughing, reenactment soldiers, speeches and music …..

On June 17, 2021, Juneteenth officially became a federal holiday.

Juneteenth Events in Hamilton

The Juneteenth 2021 speakers included

Anne Brady, Chair of the Hamilton Human Rights Commission

Dennis Dean, Board member for the Hamilton-Wenham Human Rights coalition (speaking for the North Shore Juneteenth Association)

William Olsen, member of the Hamilton Board of Select Persons

Congressman ‘Seth Moulton, U.S. Representative for Massachusetts 6th Congressional District

 The Juneteenth Flag was designed by Boston Ben (Ben Haith) in 1997. People who contributed to the process were Verlene Hines, Azim and Eliot Design.

As an illustrator, Lisa Jeanne Graf fine tuned their vision. “The Juneteenth flags represent the history, and freedom of Black Americans and their descendants.

The design of the Juneteenth flag depicts a bursting “new star”, on the horizon. The star represents a new freedom, a new people, a new star. The red, white and blue colors communicate that the previously enslaved Black people and their descendants are Americans.

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