Juneteenth

Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans. It is also often observed for celebrating African-American culture.

Originating in Galveston, Texas, it has been celebrated annually on June 19 in various parts of the United States since 1865. The day was recognized as a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. Juneteenth's commemoration is on the anniversary date of the June 19, 1865, announcement of General Order No. 3 by Union Army general Gordon Granger, proclaiming freedom for enslaved people in Texas, which was the last state of the Confederacy with institutional slavery.

Juneteenth Flag

City of Southfield celebrates Juneteenth with week of activities and events June 10-22

Festivities kick off with ceremonial Juneteenth joint resolution & flag raising

The city of Southfield and community partners will sponsor several events and activities to commemorate the City’s Juneteenth Celebration June 10-22.

Juneteenth Flag Raising and Council Presentation - June 10

Southfield’s Juneteenth Celebration will kick off with the raising of the Juneteenth flag on Monday, June 10 at 5:30 p.m. at the circle drive in front of City Hall, 26000 Evergreen Road.  This will be followed by the reading of the Juneteenth proclamation with City Council at 6 p.m.

Juneteenth Flag Raising and Council Presentation – June 10

Southfield’s Juneteenth Celebration will kick off with the raising of the Juneteenth flag on Monday, June 10 at 5:30 p.m. at the circle drive in front of City Hall, 26000 Evergreen Road.  This will be followed by the reading of the Juneteenth proclamation with City Council at 6 p.m.

The Friends of the Southfield Public Library Juneteenth Jazz and Blues Concert – June 12

The Friends of the Southfield Public Library will sponsor a special Juneteenth Jazz and Blues concert at the Southfield Public Library Fountain Terrace (with a rain location in the meeting room).This free outdoor concert will feature the music of the One Luv Band, a dynamic, high-energy group that will inspire attendees to clap their hands and move their feet. These four musicians and three soloists are interactive crowd pleasers in every way. They will leave the audience wanting more with their renditions of Motown favorites, Earth Wind and Fire and other contemporary favorites that will also incorporate Black Pride and civil rights songs commemorating the Juneteenth celebration.

Juneteenth Senior Luncheon – June 14 at 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Southfield Parks & Recreation will host a special Juneteenth Senior Luncheon in the Parks and Recreation Building room 115 at City Hall from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. The event will have a hot meal, music, dance and speeches that highlight the significance of Juneteenth. Tickets are $25 for residents and $30 for non-residents. Pre-registration is required for the Luncheon and walk-ins are not permitted. Tickets can be purchased on the Southfield Parks & Recreation website or by calling (248) 796-4620 or visiting: bit.ly/4bHwFTT

Mayor’s Juneteenth Walk – Saturday, June 15 at 10-11:30 a.m.

Join Mayor Dr. Ken Siver for the Mayor’s Juneteenth Walk on Saturday, June 15 from 10-11:30 a.m. beginning at the Southfield Municipal Campus front circle. Mayor Dr. Ken Siver will lead participants on an invigorating 2.5 mile walk around Southfield where he will discuss Southfield history and the achievements of African Americans in Southfield.

Walk with Your Hero – Sunday, June 16 from 3-4 p.m.

Southfield Parks & Recreation will host Walk with Your Hero at the Southfield Municipal Campus. This event is about honoring the heroes in your life and the enduring spirit of Juneteenth. Walk with Your Hero invites participants to reflect on the strength and inspiration provided by father figures, mentors, and community leaders. This special pre-event, coinciding with Father's Day and led by Southfield Fire Chief Menifee, is a heartfelt tribute to those who guide us, set against the backdrop of our collective journey toward freedom and equality.

Juneteenth Jubilee – Sunday, June 16 from 4-9 p.m.

Southfield Parks & Recreation will host Juneteenth Jubilee, a special Juneteenth celebration beginning at 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 16 at the Municipal Campus front lawn. This will be a celebration filled with live music, cultural performances, local cuisine, and engaging activities for all ages, embodying the joy and resilience of our community.

Bring your lawn chairs and your dancing shoes to hustle the day away as performances will take place all afternoon hosted by comedian Crystal P. and featuring singer DeLo and saxophonist Mike Elder (both Southfield graduates and residents), along with Spoken Word Artist Lashaun "Phoenix" Kotaran. There will be food trucks and a Vendor Marketplace featuring over 30 black-owned artisans and small businesses. Enjoy music with DJ Deezy D while the kids enjoy games and activities with Recreation on the Move and face painting before the outdoor concert with Detroit RSVP AllStars begins at 7 p.m. There is no charge for any of these events; however, refreshments will be available for purchase.

The Juneteenth Jubilee is sponsored by IEP Urgent Care of Southfield (Premiere Sponsor of Entertainment), CNS Health Care, Vibe Credit Union and McDonald’s of Michigan.

Southfield Historical Society Profiles in Freedom - June 18

The Southfield Historical Society Profiles in Freedom will take place at the Barn at the Mary Thompson Farm at 6 p.m. (rain location: Parks & Recreation Room 115). The event will feature period dress of Viola Liuzzo, Dr. Gladys West, Angela Davis, Sojourner Truth, Malcolm X, and others.

Pearls of Service Foundation Juneteenth Breakfast – June 22

The Pearls of Service Foundation will sponsor a Juneteenth Breakfast on June 22 at 11 a.m. at Tapestry Banquet Hall, 24580 Evergreen Road. The theme for the event is “Our ancestors’ wildest dreams: A celebra-tion of art and scholarship.” Tickets for the event cost $50 and can be purchased here: 
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/pearlsofservicefoundation/1207330#

Juneteenth Open Mic Event – Saturday June 22, 1 - 4 p.m.

The Southfield Public Library will host a special Juneteenth Open Mic Event. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy some of metro Detroit’s best spoken word poets outside on the Front Lawn (or inside the Meeting Room in case of inclement weather). The community will be invited to present original spoken word done solo, in duets or trios. Tony Speaks will be the MC host. The event will also feature food, vendors, music and more! Pre-registration is required to perform by signing-up on the Southfield Library website. The deadline to register is Monday, June 17. Walk-in performances will be welcome if time permits. Content should be PG-13.
Register and find out more: https://bit.ly/juneteenth_open_mic

Book to Screen June 26 - 6:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room

The Southfield Public Library will host a special edition of Book to Screen that will take a look at the caste system, which is a man-made social order designed to rank the value of certain groups of people. From the publisher's description of the non-fiction book, Caste. "In this brilliant book, Isabel Wilkerson gives us a masterful portrait of an unseen phenomenon in America as she explores, through an immersive, deeply researched, and beautifully written narrative and stories about real people, how America today and throughout its history has been shaped by a hidden caste system, a rigid hierarchy of human rankings," by Penguin Random House. The film, Origin, directed by Ava DuVernay, depicts the author's life as she works on what became Caste.  Please join our small group for what is sure to be an interesting discussion about the caste system.  Find out more at: https://southfieldlibrary.org/calendar-of-events/#/events/8sO7gN4nBb/instances/NB8EfKvU60/