Juneteenth celebration in Youngstown honors official end of slavery
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - A Juneteenth celebration took place at the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre Saturday.
Music, entertainment, dancing and food celebrated the emancipation of the last group of slaves in the United States back on June 19, 1865.
"We need to celebrate all history, not just portions of history," said Christina Napier, who's from Youngstown.
The all-day event, serving as an important reminder amid the national movement for racial equality.
"We thought it was important, especially with the climate of the country right now to do this event," said Charles Colvin, the Juneteenth Celebration Project manager.
The celebration had 40 vendors as well as a message, reminding the community of the importance of this day.
"History is super important and it took a tragic event to bring the energy and the focus to this area, but while we have it, we need to make a positive change for everybody," said Guy Burney, director of the Community Initiative to Reduce Violence in Youngstown.
