Many Juneteenth celebrations are taking place now and through the weekend…but one local town is marking a special connection with the holiday.
Eatonville, Florida became the first planned Black incorporated municipality 22 years after the events of June 19th, 1865. That was the day Texas learned its enslaved people were free. It was the last state to be notified – a full two-and-a-half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.
Candace Finley is Executive Director of the education organization eSTEAMed Learning Inc., which is partnering with the Town of Eatonville to produce this year’s event. She said Eatonville’s three-day Juneteenth celebration is called 1887 Juneteenth, celebrating the year of the town’s official formation along with the events of June 19th, 1865, and what they stand for, together…