Emancipation Park in Houston’s Third Ward became a gathering place for the third annual “Celebrate Freedom Festival.” The event, held ahead of Juneteenth on June 19, included a parade, cultural performances, and local vendors sharing Black history and culture. From the parade to booths featuring Black-owned businesses, the festival focused on Juneteenth, which marks the end of slavery in the United States, according to KHOU.
John Nickols, chair of Juneteenth Houston, spoke about the meaning of the event and its connection to Black heritage. “To have all of these people here and everybody’s having a good time, like, I feel like we’re doing it right,” he said. Sherry Browning, a festival attendee, mentioned the importance of teaching history to younger generations. “The kids need to know about their history, number one, that’s the most important thing, to take it on to their generation over and over,” she told KHOU…