Celebrating Freedom

Local Juneteenth Events Celebrate End of Slavery

BY DONNA HARRIS

While Juneteenth might have originated in Texas, the celebration has spread to all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Juneteenth — a combination of “June” and “nineteenth” — is known as Black Independence Day, as it marks the day that word about the end of slavery finally reached Texas, according to history.com. President Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery in the United States when he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which went into effect Jan. 1, 1863. But the news didn’t make it to the Lone Star State until 2½ years later, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston on June 19, 1865, to announce the war had ended, and all enslaved Black people in the state were free by executive decree.

Hearing they were free, former slaves celebrated with church services, picnics, socials, rodeos and other events, which was the beginning of various annual traditions.

The holiday originated in Galveston, and for years, it primarily was celebrated in Texas, which declared it an official state holiday in 1980. However, other states gradually started recognizing it officially. Minnesota began acknowledging it in 1971 but didn’t declare it an official holiday until 1996. In 2011, Georgia became the 37th state to recognize it, and the last state, South Dakota, made it a holiday in February 2022. It became a federal holiday in 2021.

Locally, Acworth, Kennesaw and Marietta plan to observe the longestrunning Black holiday with celebrations during the third weekend in June.

Marietta will kick off the observance with the 19th Annual Juneteenth Celebration Weekend June 17-18 at Glover Park in the Marietta Square. Hosted by the Cobb County branch of the NAACP, the two-day event begins with Evening Under the Stars featuring Jazzy Blu Band & Friends 6-11 p.m. Friday. The Juneteenth Cultural Festival 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday will feature more than 100 vendors; performances by Grammy Award-winning vocalist Le’Andria Johnson, Atlanta Ol Skool Drummers and other entertainers; a health fair; and a children’s area and activities.

Kennesaw will mark the holiday with

One Community: A Juneteenth

Celebration of Unity 11 a.m.-2 p.m. June 18 at Swift-Cantrell Park. The Kennesaw Police Department and its citizens advisory board are sponsoring the second annual event, which will feature food trucks, community vendors, bouncy houses, police and fire truck displays, entertainment and more.

The free celebration is a result of the department partnering with a team of faith and community leaders to honor the community, its diversity and its unity at a family-friendly event.

“We look forward once again to celebrating Juneteenth as one community,” Chief of Police Bill Westenberger said. “We want to take the opportunity to celebrate a day recognizing freedom through emancipation. There is no better day to engage diversity by celebrating opportunities to be together, play together, eat together and celebrate together.”

In Acworth, music lovers can enjoy Concert on the Green: A Juneteenth Celebration 5-10 p.m. June 18 at Logan Farm Park. West Cobb School of Rock will perform from 5-6 p.m., followed by headline act Total Package Band doing an Earth, Wind and Fire tribute from 7-9 p.m. The free event also will feature dance groups, vendors and food.

One of the largest celebrations in the area will be the 10th annual

Juneteenth Atlanta Parade and

Music Festival June 17-19 at Centennial Olympic Park. The event will include speakers, an artist market, double dutch, family reunions, food, kids activities and a parade, march and rally. For information, visit www.juneteenthatl.com.

A New, Delicious Way to Eat Healthy

One of the newest restaurants to open in Acworth is the rst quick-service restaurant to o er healthy meals made with whole unprocessed ingredients, according to owner Randy Elias. Aloha Poke o ers sushi bowls made with fresh ingredients including salmon, tuna, edamame, ginger, cucumber and rice. e sh is some of the most sustainable around, according to Aloha Poke Co. e salmon is raised in Patagonian aquafarms with water so cold the sh don’t need antibiotics. e tuna is hand-caught by line and pole. Eco-friendlyraised shrimp, free range and antibiotic-free chicken also are available, as well as bowls with no protein or tofu for vegetarians. “Not only do these bowls taste great, but they are made in a way that people can feel good about,” Randy said. Randy also owns Moe’s Southwest Grill at 3348 Cobb Parkway, which he opened in 2004. His new venture is next door to Moe’s and will o er the same community support for which he is known. “I have been deeply invested in our community. is involves doing food donations throughout the year, partnering with schools, churches, sports teams, private businesses, etc. through fundraising opportunities in the store as well as o premises. I plan on o ering the same opportunities throughout the community with Aloha,” he said. Working in the restaurant industry came naturally for Randy. His father was a franchisee, as well as the president of Arby’s corporation in the 1970s and ’80s, and his brother owns and operates several Jimmy John’s. Randy is a 1999 graduate of Northern Arizona University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. His personal experience owning other franchises in Cartersville and Acworth led him to develop this new concept with Aloha Poke. It wasn’t di cult for Randy to determine the location for Aloha Poke. “By owning and operating the Moe’s Southwest Grill right next door, I know the market, customer base and demographics,” he said. “Aloha is the rst poke concept to come to Acworth. From my market research, Aloha will be a huge success in this location.”

A selecti on of house bowls; above left , Aloha Bowl; in back, Volcano Bowl and in front, Crunch Bowl. Right, Volcano House Bowl ingredients includes seaweed, edamame, jalapeño, ginger, tobiko and volcano sauce.

EQ