The 2nd annual Juneteenth Celebration for Milledgeville was hosted Saturday by the Harrisburg Collaborative organization, featuring vendors, music, food, and commemorating a momentous day in Black history. The celebration was held at the intersection of Floyd Griffin Jr. and North Wayne Streets, where a large tent and podium were in place for speakers.
City Councilman Walter Reynolds was introduced by Baldwin-Milledgeville NAACP President Cynthia Ward Edwards.
“I’m very proud to see this event continue to grow and draw more and more members of our community together in celebration of such a wonderful occasion,” Reynolds said.
Baldwin County Commissioner Kendrick Butts also attended and commented on the importance of celebrating the history and culture of African Americans.
“Let us not forget the Juneteenth celebration is a testament to our commitment to diversity, unity, and the pursuit of a more equitable world,” Butts said.
“Let us remember that the fight for equality is not the responsibility of a single community or a group, but a collective endeavor that requires us to stand together united as one.”
Following the national anthem and the Georgia Military College (GMC) ROTC Color Guard marching across the intersection, visitors were able to walk around and visit the various tents and food trucks or walk inside Allen’s Market to meet local authors. Among those authors was Pamela Speights, who recently wrote When Make-up Can’t Cover the Pain.
Other vendors provided artisanal products like crocheted goods, handcrafted jewelry, and apothecary products. Local organizations including GMC, PFLAG of Milledgeville, and the Milledgeville Rotary Club, among others, also attended to support the event.
Georgia College & State University had a tent at the event, too, as the festival is supported by its Center for Health and Social Issues, the Office of Inclusive Excellence, and Georgia College Foundation.
Juneteenth refers to June 19th, officially declared a national holiday in June 2021 to commemorate June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Texas were declared free under the terms of the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation.