Juneteenth Philadelphia

Why Juneteenth in Philadelphia?

Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation didn’t free a single slave? Two years 5 months and 18 day after Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation many Africans in America were still working in their master’s fields.

Where as the original Watch Night service occurred on December 31, 1862; the day when Africans gathered in churches in anticipation of news pertaining to their freedom, which was to come down from the White House the following day. During the Watch Night Services, Africans from the Many Nations in Africa in unison prayed to their higher power, asking their God, their Allah, to hear and act on their prayers. These Africans prayed that their prayers would cause President Lincoln to do the right thing, free all Africans enslaved in America.

On New Year Day, January 1, 1863, (a new day for freedom) President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, this document fell short of freeing Africans; it freed only those Africans who were enslaved in enemy occupied territories, it freed no one. Unknown to these Africans, though Lincoln’s worldly document fell short their higher power heard their prayers. Their higher power transfer the prayers of the Watch Night Service attendees into the spirits of 290, 000 Africans who went into America’s community to address the issue of freedom, to free their families and their extended families from the Many Nations in Africa.

The Watch Night prayers were also transmitted into the spirits of 13, 000 Africans who enrolled in the Union Army First Training camp set up exclusively to train Africans. United States Colored Troop’s marched from Camp William Penn down Broad Street, the heart of the city, before going into America’s communities to free their families, free their extended families, free them self.

The First Union Army Training Camp to exclusively train African freedom fighters was set up in Lamott, in Montgomery County (present site of the Cheltenham Mall). African soldiers from this camp’s 22nd infantry tracked down President Lincoln assassin and conspirators and captured them on the Eastern shores of Maryland. African freedom fighters, from this camp’s 8th and 41st Infantries tracked down General Lee, commander of the Confederate Army, and contributed to his surrender in Appomattox, Virginia. The prayers of the Watch Night attendees were in the spirit of the African freedom fighters from Camp William Penn’s 41st 43rd 45th and 127th when they went from state to state to free Africans who were still enslaved within America’s borders. These four Infantries along with freedom fighters from the 22nd 8th and 41st infantries entered the borders of Texas on June 13, 1865 to free the last of the Africans that needed to be given their freedom, this was 2 years 5 months and 12 days after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.

Whereas on June 19, 1865 Camp William Penn Soldiers were present when General Gordon Granger stood on the balcony of the Ashton Villa in Galveston Texas and read General Order # 3. When General Ganger read, “In accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free”. Granger’s resounding words coupled with the sight of the freedom fighters surrounding the balcony and aligned along the streets, lead to a spontaneous celebration in the streets of Galveston Texas. The Watch Night Service Prayers and the Camp William Penn Soldiers mission accomplished. All Africans in America were now legally free. This freedom celebration became known as “Juneteenth”, “Juneteenth National Freedom Day”, “Jun-Jun” and “Freedom Day”. It’s name changed as this freedom celebration spread across America.

Today Juneteenth commemorates the triumph of the human spirit over centuries of resistance to inhumane enslavement. Juneteenth is a historic milestone that offers the nation the opportunity for healing and greater understanding for self and community with an upcoming series of Juneteenth programs and events.

PJC call for African-Americans Families to answer the call, like the 13,000 African Ancestors who answered the call for your and my freedom. Shall we, families of the Many Nations in Africa, in coalition, answer the call, addressing those elements that are enslaving African-American Families? Volunteer your time and resources to help make Juneteenth’s 140th Family Reunion Anniversary, in Pennsylvania, a day that will make our ancestors proud.

Please Call PJC at 215- 222-8882, or e-mail us at PhillyJuneteenth@Yahoo.com. One can also search the web at www.Juneteenthphilly.com, to learn more about PJC.

Juneteenth National Freedom Celebration
A Family Reunion 141th Anniversary (1865-2006)

FRIDAY JUNE 16th

10 a.m - 4:00 p.m. PJC Drumming Up The Spirits: Old City Philadelphia
10 a.m.- 12 p.m.- Historic Walking Tour of Old City Enslavement Trails. This Walking Tour kicks-off at 10:00 AM, at the river at Delaware Ave. and Chestnut St.; This site is a Historic landmark where the first 150 Enslaved Africans step foot on the shores of Philadelphia. This tour travels to the London Coffee House and Head House Square; marketplaces where buyers would come to examine newly arrived Africans who were to be sold into slavery. Tourist will be able to experience Traditional African and Indian Drum and Dance Ceremonies; as well as observe live demonstrations of the horrendous treatment, Africans experienced during slavery. Tourist will be able to visit Mother Bethel, the first African-American Mother Church, and a site on the Underground Railroad. You will able to visit, this nation’s White House from 1790-1800; and the Liberty Bell, as well as visit the grounds of this nations oldest and most honored Abolition Society. For tickets CONTACT: 215-222-8882, email philajuneteenth@yahoo.com or visit the Independence Visitors Center. Call for Reservations.

12 p.m.- 4 p.m.- The tour will culminate at Congo/Washington Square 6th and Walnut Street; Tourist will be able to Observe a Musical Drum, Dance and Spoken Word Re-enactment of a 1783 African Ceremony that took place at this site. This Drumming up the Spirit, Traditional African Ceremony, is a tribute to the many African Ancestors who are buried at this site. This Ceremony is also a tribute to the millions of un-marked graves that exist throughout the United States of America. Come Walk Through the Doors of this Nations History. Experience this one of a kind, Traditional African Ceremony, Scared Music Concert. Admission is free

12-2 p.m. - National Archives Mid Atlantic Region will host: Following Families to Freedom – the records of the War Department Bureau of Refugees, Freedman and Abandoned Lands, commonly known as the Freedman’s Bureau, contain a wealth of information for tracing African – American family history, as well as understanding the larger picture of post Civil War changes.  You’ll explore these records in this workshop, and appreciate your and your family’s connection with Juneteenth. Admission cost: Free

                                                                                        SATURDAY, JUNE 17th

12:00 p.m. to 6p.m. - PJC Juneteenth 2006 Youth Activities Committee
& the Institute for the Study of Civic Values Present A Day of Freedom
Another Day of Liberation (Past, Present & Future) Martin Luther King Recreation Center
22nd & Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Frederick Douglas Harriet Tubman Renactments, All Day Chess Matches/ Checker Dominoe & Card Players, Welcome Imani Pledge House of Umoja
Philadelphia Human Relations Commission, Prizes and Games .

10 a.m. – 11 a.m. : The Union League of Philadelphia, will host a 60-minute tour of the Union League, with emphasis on the League’s Civil War history, its role in Philadelphia, and its position as a supporter of African-American civil rights during the 1860s and 1870s. Admission cost: Free

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. – GPTMC Taking a Stand for Freedom: Philadelphia’s Underground Railroad. Tour will depart from the Independence Visitor's Center to the Johnson House.Experience moving first-person accounts that evoked the moral and spiritual battles of conscience waged by black and white Philadelphians who risked their lives and personal liberty as Station Masters in the Underground Railroad. Tour includes stops at Mother Bethel AME CHURCH, and dramatic re-enactments at the Civil War Museum, and the Johnson house Historic Site. Tours depart from the Independence Visitors Center at 6th & Market Street, at 10a.m. Admission is $30.00

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – The Johnson House Historic Site - USCT Encampment & Recruiting Drive. The Johnson House Historic Site located at Germantown Avenue and Washington Lane will host an encampment of the Third United States Colored Troops who will provide the military escort for Mr. Frederick Douglas and Ms. Harriet Tubman as they recruit new soldiers to fight for the Union cause.  The encampment and the recruiting drive will be open to the public beginning at 11 a.m. on the grounds of the Johnson House, the only historically certified Underground Railroad site in Philadelphia. Admission is free.

4 to 8pm - New Africa Center/Muslim American Museum & Archive Juneteenth Tribute. "Born to be Free" Uncovers the untold story of African Muslims scholars, Omar Ibn Said, Prince Ibrahim Abdur Rahman, Yarrow Mamout and other enslaved in America through engaging exhibits, artifacts, storytelling and lectures by prominent scholars. A learning experience for the whole family. The New Africa Center/Muslim American Museum & Archive is located at 4243 Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104. For info call (215) 386-4090 or email ICPIC@earthlink.net. Admission is free

6P.M. – 11P.M. AAMP 30th & PAJC JUNETEENTH UNITY AWARD GALA   In partnership with the PA Juneteenth Coalition, AAMP will host a Gala to commemorate Juneteenth, honoring those in our community who continue to unite us all: featuring a buffet, music, performances and dancing. For information and reservations, call 215-222-8882 or 215-574-0380.
Call for Reservations.

                                                                                        SUNDAY JUNE 18th

8 a.m & 11 a.m. – Honoring Our Ancestors: A Father’s Day Tribute. All Church congregations in Philadelphia will mark the 141st celebration of Juneteenth with song and religious celebration of efforts by Black heroes like Frederick Douglas, Harriet Tubman, William Still, John Brown, Henry “Box” Brown, Denmark Vessy, Margaret Garner, Nat Turner and the United States Colored Troops, freedom fighters and patriots. Admission is free.

10 AM to 8:00 PM PHILLY JUNETEENTH NATIONAL FREEDOM DAY CELEBRATION
Parade Kickoff: 10:00 a.m. - All Wars Memorial 20th & Benjamin Franklin Parkway to the Lincoln Memorial Statue
Commemorative Ceremony 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – At The Lincoln Memorial Statue, Sedgely & Kelly Drive
A Philly Style Father’s Day Tribute In Honor of Our Ancestors:  1:00 – 8:00 p.m.  Keeping With the Juneteenth Historic Tradition. This Fun Day of Activities For The Family, Tourist, and Cultural Community; Features Family Reunions/Barbeque Cook-outs, Speakers, A Potpourri of Music, Performers, Dance, Live Poetry, Visual Arts, Games, Marketplace of Vendors, Food and More!

2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Laurel Hill CemeteryFor Freedom in Life & Death: the Civil War History Buried at Laurel Hill: General Thomas Kane served as an agent on the Underground Railroad.  Colonel Alexander Cummings was Superintendent of Troops of African Descent in Arkansas, organizing five regiments of black infantry.  General Edgar Gregory assisted runaway slaves in escaping to Canada, and served as the first Assistant Commissioner of the Texas Freedman’s Bureau after the war…These are just a few of the stories you will learn about in historic Laural Hill Cemetery’s tour commemorating Juneteenth & the Civil War. Admission:  $15.00

4 to 8pm - New Africa Center/Muslim American Museum & Archive Juneteenth Tribute. "Born to be Free" Uncovers the untold story of African Muslims scholars, Omar Ibn Said, Prince Ibrahim Abdur Rahman, Yarrow Mamout and other enslaved in America through engaging exhibits, artifacts, storytelling and lectures by prominent scholars. A learning experience for the whole family. The New Africa Center is located at 4243 Lancaster Avenue, Phila. PA 19104. For info call (215) 386-4090 or email ICPIC@earthlink.net

7 PM -   Robins Book Store, Juneteenth tribute, Celebrating The Voice of the Voiceless:             
               Robin’s Book Store Address is– 108 s. 13TH St. 215-735-9600: Program to include
7:00   –  Poetry In Motion, poetry and skits about Freedom and Imprisonment
7:15       Film Clip from The Mural Arts Program Documentary in progress
7:30   –  Film Clip from Living with Life
7:45    -  Panel Discussion followed by Interactive Discussion with:
             · Malik Aziz:  community activist
             · Tony Heriza, filmmaker, assistant communications director
             · Will Little, Director of Poetry In Motion
             ·  Tonya McClary, Director, AFSC National Criminal Justice Program and editor
             · Teya Sepinuck, Director, TOVA, theater of witness
             ·  moderator, Judith Trustone, Director; co-author with seven  prisoners

                                                                                       MONDAY, JUNE 19th

9:30 a.m. – The 3rd United States Colored Infantry will provide a military escort and Honor Guard for the Emancipation Proclamation as it is moved from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania to the African American Museum in honor of the 30th Anniversary of the Museum and the 141st annual observation of Juneteenth.

12 p.m. to 2 p.m. – PAJC & the African American Museum in Philadelphia will host a Juneteenth celebration featuring one of the only official copies of the Emancipation Proclamation, signed by President Abraham Lincoln. The Pennsylvania Historical Society, a co-sponsor of this event, is providing this valuable historic document. The 3rd United States Colored Infantry will provide a military Honor Guard for this historic document.  The program will include a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation by children from historic, Freedom Theater in Philadelphia. Historical figures in period attire will also perform during the program, which is scheduled from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. at the African American Museum located at 7th and Arch Street. Admission is free

2: PM – 5PM Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HHP) Open House Juneteenth Observance. HHP is located at, 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Join us for a afternoon celebrating Philadelphia’s African American past. Begin with a look at rarely seen items from the HSP collections, including the Emancipation, William Stills’s original Underground Railroad diary, and selections from the Pennsylvania Abolition Society papers. Follow at # PM with a panel discussion featuring local experts to explore the history and legacies of African American history in Philadelphia. Reservations can be made by calling 215-732-6200, extension 412, or sending an e-mail to events@hsp.org For questions regarding programs at the Historical Society, call 215-732-6200.
Admission is free

6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library, located at 68 W. Chelten Ave; in Concert with the PA Juneteenth Coalition will host a Juneteenth Family Celebration. This program feature history, stories and refreshments. Admission is free

June 16 – 19th: Time TBD:

Walnut Street Theatre host: In Sun and Snow – A Play by Mary L. Hagy. In Sun and Snow is a 10 – minute play, based on the diaries of two teenaged girls who lived in Philadelphia during the Civil War.  Both middle-class young ladies, unknown to each other, they documented remarkably similar lives in strong, financially secure families who enjoyed an active social whirl.  There was one difference: Margaret was white; Emily was of African descent.  In the 19th century Philadelphia, African American entrepreneurs created successful businesses, owned property and enjoyed affluent lifestyles.  But ultimately, Emily faced undeniable challenges that Margaret could not conceive.  Emily and Margaret faced the tragedy of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination and experience how much – and how little – their world changed in its wake. Admission

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. June 1 -30, 2006

National Liberty Museum: Young visitors enjoy a free and fun activity book highlighting African American history and the Juneteenth holiday with games, puzzles, quizzes, crafts and more.  Each weekend, from 10 am to 5 p.m. on Saturday s and Sundays, the Museum’s “Craft Corner” hosts a free Juneteenth craft project. Admission cost:

Philadelphia Juneteenth Coalition (PJC)
3118 Spring Garden Street / Philadelphia, Pa. 19104-2567
215-222-8882, E-mail:Philajuneteenth@yahoo.com
Website:www.juneteenthphilly.com
Ronald K. Brown, Founder/President