Juneteenth Celebrations Reflect Legacy of Slavery’s End/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Juneteenth, marking the end of slavery in 1865, is being honored nationwide. In Portsmouth, New Hampshire, celebrations include dance events, memorial rededications, history tours, and community discussions—highlighting overlooked Black narratives and historical truths amid political friction.
Juneteenth Across America + Quick Looks:
- Portsmouth holds weeklong Juneteenth festivities, ending in dance ceremony.
- African Burying Ground Memorial rededicated; history talks spotlight Black founders.
- Organizers aim to correct incomplete narratives about U.S. founding fathers.
- Celebrations occur amid Trump administration’s rollback of DEI and Black history.
- Juneteenth established as federal holiday in 2021; recognized in nearly all states.
- New Hampshire lacking permanent legal holiday, organizers wary of legislators.
- Events fostering community unity through food, music, education, and dance.
Juneteenth Celebrations Reflect Legacy of Slavery’s End
Deep Look
Across the United States, communities are gathering to mark Juneteenth, the historic anniversary of June 19, 1865, when Union Army soldiers brought the news of emancipation to the last group of enslaved Black people living in Texas—more than two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
In New Hampshire, one of the country’s whitest states, the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire has organized an extensive, weeklong series of events. The celebration will culminate Thursday with a community dance and the rededication of the African Burying Ground Memorial Park in Portsmouth.
These events—including guided history walks, roundtable discussions, educational presentations and performances—aim not just to celebrate but to confront uncomfortable truths often omitted from popular accounts of American history.
“Although [the Founding Fathers] are historically courageous, smart men, they were also human. They held people in bondage. They had children with their enslaved,” said JerriAnne Boggis, executive director of the Heritage Trail.
“What would the story look like if America was told from the perspective of Black descendants?”
As Juneteenth gains national recognition, its celebration comes amid political shifts that complicate its meaning. The Trump administration is implementing measures to reduce diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in federal agencies, and removing content related to Black American history from government websites. In this context, the Heritage Trail’s events aim to preserve a fuller narrative of America’s founding, particularly at a time when the nation is preparing to mark 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
New Hampshire has not yet declared Juneteenth a permanent paid or legal holiday, despite 29 states and the District of Columbia having done so through legislation or executive orders. Boggis admits she is losing confidence that state lawmakers will act anytime soon:
“I am not so sure anymore given the political environment we’re in,” she said.
“I think we’ve taken a whole bunch of steps backwards in understanding our history, civil rights and inclusion.”
Still, she remains hopeful that education and shared experience can shift perspectives.
“It’s not a divisive tool to know the truth. Knowing the truth helps us understand some of the current issues that we’re going through,” she added.
Community highlights in Portsmouth include a joyful parade, a storytelling picnic at a local park, and a lantern-lighting ceremony at the African Burying Ground. Boggis stressed that alongside truth-telling was also the need for celebration:
“When we come together, when we break bread together, we enjoy music together, we learn together, we dance together, we’re creating these bonds of community,” she said.
“As much as we educate, we also want to celebrate together.”
Juneteenth’s prominence has grown in recent years, especially after President Joe Biden signed legislation in June 2021 making it a federal holiday. For centuries, it was observed mainly in Texas and other parts of the South; today, it’s recognized in all 50 states, with nearly 30 providing paid leave or formal legal recognition.
President Donald Trump, during his first term, issued Juneteenth statements each year, honoring the contributions of Black Americans and acknowledging the historical significance of the day.
“On Juneteenth 2017, we honor the countless contributions made by African Americans to our Nation and pledge to support America’s promise as the land of the free,” he said in a statement.
But this year’s celebrations are unfolding as the current administration intensifies restrictions on DEI programs and curates government education materials, raising concerns among civil rights advocates and educators about erasing key elements of Black history and achievement.
Yet in Portsmouth, organizers believe that creating inclusive spaces and sharing history openly can strengthen national unity. “It’s more than remembering,” Boggis said. “It’s preparing our communities to confront history and build a better future.”
As parades, educational events and memorial ceremonies take place from coast to coast, Juneteenth’s enduring message remains clear: the ongoing work of freedom and equality demands both remembrance and celebration.
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