NEW YORK — A free block party, organized to mark Juneteenth, was held in Harlem on Friday night.
Hundreds of people came to celebrate “Freedom Day” in St. Nicholas Park during the event, which the mayor’s office hosted.
What You Need To Know
- A Juneteenth celebration was held in St. Nicholas Park in Harlem on Friday, attended by the mayor and NYC’s first lady
- Hundreds came out for the events and hailed from neighborhoods across the five boroughs
- Among the attendees were Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and actress Naturi Naughton, who was honored for her work feeding New Yorkers during the pandemic
- A number of young men and women performed at the event including singers, dancers and a poet
Among the attendees was Esmay Robinson, 88, a lifelong Harlem resident, who said the meaning behind the event was reason enough to get up and dance.
“Those people suffered for years,” Robinson said. “Two years after slavery was over and the people were still slaves in Texas.”
The two-hour long event kept the block party vibe throughout.
While the crowd did quiet down as speakers took the stage, attendees also danced to music before and after the official event.
Several hundred people attended the event, and for many of them it was the first time in 16 months that they had been able to congregate and celebrate in this fashion.
Those who spoke with NY1 said that the event was even more meaningful because they were marking Juneteenth.
“We’ve gone through so much. So many years, and continue to,” attendee Jacquline Mable said. “The fact we’ve been given that day is a blessing.”
Following a speech by Mayor Bill de Blasio, the event was a collective celebration of Black culture and included performances from talent that came from across the five boroughs to participate, including dancers, musicians and a poet.
New York City’s first lady, Chirlane McCray, reminded those in attendance that Juneteenth is about more than just a holiday, saying it’s also an opportunity for everyone to take a look at their own history.
“I want you to talk to your parents, your grandparents, or your uncles, or your cousins,” McCray said. “Ask them questions, listen to their stories.”
One woman who spoke with NY1 said she hadn’t heard of Juneteenth until Thursday.
“I was like, wow. Thank you! I was crying,” Patricia Vestal attendee said. “They don’t teach you what Juneteenth is about, and I’m here to learn.”
The mayor said the event was held on the James Baldwin Lawn because it was the perfect place to talk about the power of Juneteenth.
“James Baldwin’s voice rang out, asking us not to look away from painful truths. He identified them for us so we could do something about it, we could act on them. We did not have to accept them. And in that spirit today, we talk about change,” de Blasio said. “Juneteenth is not just a wistful memory. Juneteenth is not just an excuse for a barbecue or a civic gathering. Juneteenth is a moment to recommit ourselves to change, to action, to not accepting the status quo that we all know is still broken.”
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