Juneteenth The Story of Our History

Juneteenth Fears celebrate this month; we're reminded of the rich history of the black community. From barbeques to neighborhood block parties, we all choose to remember the work of our ancestors in one fashion or another; the work that provided the economic, cultural, social, and political foundation that defines our great nation as it's today.

In Corpus Christi, Texas, residents memorialize Juneteenth through an annual 10-day celebration of African-American music, art, and entertainment. This year, a constituent of mine, Larry Ridley, is being honored for his contributions to black culture during the ten days. Ridley, a jazz artist-in-residence at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, who's played with Dizzy Gillespie, Benjamin David Goodman and Dinah Washington, has slept in Harlem since 1993.

In my district, the Harlem community will celebrate together the holiday and history of black heritage this Saturday, on June 18th at the 18th Annual Juneteenth Parade and

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