What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.
From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond.
Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings.
It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement and for planning the future. Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity in America long over due. In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities and religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society.
Virginia is where slavery started with an increasing number of
"slavery" laws entered into the Virginia Code in the 1640s and moving forward. With four million enslaved people Virginia had the nation's largest slave population.
Richmond, VA was capitol of the Confederacy and roughly
two-thirds of all Civil War battles took place in Virginia.
The Underground Railroad was especially active on Hampton Roads'
numerous ports and waterways.
Virginia is where the first battle of the Civil War took place in
1831 with the Nat Turner Insurrection in which, for the first time, the blood of nearly 60 white men, women and children was spilled in the War Against Slavery (WAS). And by the time of Nat Turner’s hanging in
November 1831 the deaths of over 200 Black men, women and children were directly attributable to the insurrection.
From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond.
Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings.
It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement and for planning the future. Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity in America long over due. In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities and religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society.
Virginia is where slavery started with an increasing number of
"slavery" laws entered into the Virginia Code in the 1640s and moving forward. With four million enslaved people Virginia had the nation's largest slave population.
Richmond, VA was capitol of the Confederacy and roughly
two-thirds of all Civil War battles took place in Virginia.
The Underground Railroad was especially active on Hampton Roads'
numerous ports and waterways.
Virginia is where the first battle of the Civil War took place in
1831 with the Nat Turner Insurrection in which, for the first time, the blood of nearly 60 white men, women and children was spilled in the War Against Slavery (WAS). And by the time of Nat Turner’s hanging in
November 1831 the deaths of over 200 Black men, women and children were directly attributable to the insurrection.
About Us
The benefits bought by JuneteenthVA programming starts with our organization's mission to heal our community and so we begin by identifying jobs for those hardest hit in the Great Recession. There is a role for every type of learner and leader in the theatre. Our work requires a range of skills and talents ranging from accounting and acting to
wardrobe and transportation. Military veterans and their families,
teenagers, senior citizens, food stamps recipients, those who are on disability, unemployment, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid all have a place at the JuneteenthVA table.
Check out JuneteenthVA's programs and significance to see a clip that shows a woman interrupting a performance of “Abolitionists’ Museum” at Riddick’s Folly in Suffolk with this, “Nat Turner killed my family!”
Ms.Rose Nichols, early 70s was a descendent of one of the victims of the
Nat Turner Insurrection and almost 200 years later she’s still angry. Also in the audience that day were members of the Sons of the Confederacy who were concerned about the play’s plot which involves a debate on whether or not to burn a rebel flag. A few months later the first of the Tea Party town hall meetings took place where people were throwing chairs and behaving badly, but anyone who was at that February 2009 JuneteenthVA performance learned that it is possible to discuss
emotionally charged topics with civility. If we can start there then we will ultimately find our way to forgiveness and reconciliation. That is the mission of JuneteenthVA.
There are many groups in this country and around the world who
use the theatre arts to convey the human dimension of important cultural and historical events and figures. Here in Hampton Roads, VA we
have the unique distinction of having our personal, local history also be the intimate details of the United States of America's literal birth at Jamestown in 1607. As the nation’s oldest community Tidewater-Hampton Roads, Virginia has both a responsibility and an opportunity to serve as a role model for how to overcome the lingering legacy of slavery in America. Our region is linked by a history
that does not recognize boundaries between the 17 cities, towns and
counties that fall under that regional umbrella.
wardrobe and transportation. Military veterans and their families,
teenagers, senior citizens, food stamps recipients, those who are on disability, unemployment, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid all have a place at the JuneteenthVA table.
Check out JuneteenthVA's programs and significance to see a clip that shows a woman interrupting a performance of “Abolitionists’ Museum” at Riddick’s Folly in Suffolk with this, “Nat Turner killed my family!”
Ms.Rose Nichols, early 70s was a descendent of one of the victims of the
Nat Turner Insurrection and almost 200 years later she’s still angry. Also in the audience that day were members of the Sons of the Confederacy who were concerned about the play’s plot which involves a debate on whether or not to burn a rebel flag. A few months later the first of the Tea Party town hall meetings took place where people were throwing chairs and behaving badly, but anyone who was at that February 2009 JuneteenthVA performance learned that it is possible to discuss
emotionally charged topics with civility. If we can start there then we will ultimately find our way to forgiveness and reconciliation. That is the mission of JuneteenthVA.
There are many groups in this country and around the world who
use the theatre arts to convey the human dimension of important cultural and historical events and figures. Here in Hampton Roads, VA we
have the unique distinction of having our personal, local history also be the intimate details of the United States of America's literal birth at Jamestown in 1607. As the nation’s oldest community Tidewater-Hampton Roads, Virginia has both a responsibility and an opportunity to serve as a role model for how to overcome the lingering legacy of slavery in America. Our region is linked by a history
that does not recognize boundaries between the 17 cities, towns and
counties that fall under that regional umbrella.
