Recent protests have stirred a reckoning on racism and on Friday, thousands, many for the first time, will participate in events recognizing the holiday.
Thousands of people are expected to flood New York City’s parks, plazas and streets on Friday morning in celebration of Juneteenth, an annual holiday that until recent protests was, outside of black communities, not widely recognized.
But demonstrations against police brutality following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis have grown into a broader, national conversation on racism. Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, has taken on even more significance for a country grappling with its racist past and present.
Companies, organizations and politicians are embracing Juneteenth, which has gained more support to become a national holiday. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo issued an executive order this week recognizing Juneteenth as a holiday for state employees.
On Friday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that next year Juneteenth will become an official city and school holiday.
“I’m sorry that it took all of this, but I’m glad it’s finally being given some recognition,” said Cordell Cleare, a community activist who serves on the Juneteenth Committee of Masjid Malcolm Shabazz in Harlem, which will hold its 27th celebration on Saturday. “It’s sad and joyful at the same time.”
Parades and festivals are currently banned in New York City to stop the spread of the coronavirus so organizers of the annual Juneteenth parade and festival in Harlem feared the event would be canceled or muted. There will be no floats this year.
Organizers had planned a walk, but the interest generated amid protests and discussions about the legacy of racism has them bracing for a large crowd.
“It wasn’t going to be at all because of coronavirus,” Ms. Cleare said. “This is being done in the form of a walk and rally for this to become a holiday. We just morphed everything into a walk and a cry for justice for getting a holiday and all that comes with that. We’re going to float these feet.”
Ms. Cleare said she would be busy on Friday planning for the event, which will be held on Saturday as it usually is, but added that she could not believe how many marches and rallies were planned.
