June 10, 2022 Submitted by Laurie Asmus for Hingham Unity Council
Hingham Unity Council (HUC) is excited to share some more information about its second annual Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration on Saturday, June 18, 2022, from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. ALL are welcome to meet us near the bandstand at Hingham Harbor to enjoy live music, a dance performance, a special performance of the Black National Anthem, and good eats.
What is Juneteenth?
On June 19, 1865 (“Juneteenth”), Union soldiers enforced President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and freed all remaining slaves in Texas, two months after the South’s official surrender in the Civil War and two and a half years after the proclamation went into effect. Also known as EmancipationDay and Freedom Day, Juneteenth originated as a Texas holiday to celebrate the end of slavery throughout the United States. Learn more here.
Why celebrate Juneteenth?
No matter who or where you are, you can and should celebrate Juneteenth! It has been celebrated since 1866, mostly by Black Americans, but it is important that it be recognized by every American as a turning point in our nation’s history to form a more perfect union.
What is the Black National Anthem?
“Lift Every Voice and Sing” is a hymn affectionately referred to as “the Black National Anthem” based on a poem written in 1900 by James Weldon Johnson. In the 1920s, it would be adopted by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) as the official Negro National Anthem. Learn more here.
How will Hingham celebrate Juneteenth?
Join your friends and neighbors for live and in-person fun at the Hingham Bathing Beach! Enjoy live music from Big Redd’s House, a dance performance by YAK (Youth Acquiring Knowledge), and a vocal performance of the Black National Anthem by acclaimed gospel singer Rakeem Andre! Food will be available for purchase from Morrell’s BBQ. The HUC will also once again welcome the Rev. Julian K. Fredie Jr. and Cantor Steven Weiss to bless the celebration (Imam Khalid Nasr was invited once more, but unavailable).
The HUC has also partnered with the Hingham Arts Alliance to sponsor a contest for K-12 students expressing What Does Juneteenth Mean to You and Your Community? Winners will be announced and viewed or read at the event.
Check out a special sneak preview of YAK in this video: https://youtu.be/cdyYUuHyQJ0
Yes, these are the same performers you may have seen wowing visitors at Boston’s Faneuil Hall – and they are coming to Hingham!
“There is a difference between exploiting Juneteenth with colors, apparel, ice cream and pictures and actually holding space and celebrating the meaning, spirit and importance of
Juneteenth – and the second is what will happen on June 18th in Hingham. See you there!” said Daniel Laurent, Juneteenth Celebration planning committee member.
Don’t miss it!
Juneteenth Celebration, A Hingham Unity Council Event
June 18, 2022
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
The Bandstand at Hingham Harbor, Hingham Bathing Beach
Free and open to all
Rain date June 19th (actual Juneteenth holiday)
Fun for all ages! Music, food, and more!
This event is free and requires no advance registration. Learn more at https://hinghamunity.org/event/juneteenth-celebration/
For more information about this and other upcoming events and initiatives, join the Hingham Unity Council’s email list at www.hinghamunity.org and follow www.facebook.com/hinghamunitycouncil. Any questions can be emailed to info@hinghamunity.org. Formed by members of the Hingham community in the fall of 2019, Hingham Unity Council is part of the South Shore Unity Council, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All are welcome and encouraged to participate.