The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTED
Juneteenth holds its fifth annual celebration
Lakeview Park, 1800 W. Erie Ave., was packed with people enjoying warm weather, music and food vendors.
The Elyria YWCA and the Lorain County Metro Parks held its fifth annual Juneteenth Bluesfest at Lakeview Park in Lorain June 18.
Attendees were able to hear Abraham Lincoln read the Emancipation Proclamation, Sojourner Truth and blues music from bands including Lydia Lee and Band, ET King and Luther Trammel and Band.
Jeanine Donaldson, executive director of the Elyria YWCA, said the celebration was started in Lorain, Elyria to highlight the African American culture.
“Oberlin has had a Juneteenth celebration for many years now and we thought it was time for Elyria and Lorain to get together for this,” she said. “Other cultures have festivals, so we felt it was our time.”
Oberlin had its Juneteenth on June 16 and June 17 and Sunday was chosen for Elyria and Lorain, so it wouldn’t take from Oberlin’s celebration, Donaldson said.
Juneteenth celebrates the ending of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, union soldiers who were led by Major General Gordon Granger to Galveston, Texas heard that the war ended and the enslaved were free.
The soldiers learned of this news two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which became official January 1, 1863.
Donaldson says she lives near Lakeview Park and she is happy to see her culture at the park.
“You know, I don’t see a lot of African American in this park, so it’s nice to see everyone together enjoying blues music,” she said. “All cultures love blues music or just music, it brings people together.”
Residents also got to partake in a car show, pound cake contest and other activities.