This Saturday marks the first year in which Juneteenth will be celebrated as a state holiday.
Juneteenth
June 20, 2021
Aliyah Walker
Over 45 people gathered at the Narragansett House in Oak Bluffs Saturday to celebrate Juneteenth, and its new status as a federal holiday.
2011
June 9, 2011
For such a small place, the Island has a surprisingly diverse people — a native tribe, a long-established African American community, waves of Portuguese speakers — and so for its annual Juneteenth celebration, the Martha’s Vineyard NAACP has asked several Islanders to share their interracial experiences here.
2010
June 24, 2010
Former ABC news anchor Carole Simpson has made, in her words, thousands and thousands of speeches, so she knew she wanted to do something special on Saturday to really engage those Vineyarders and visitors gathered at Deon’s Restaurant in Oak Bluffs to commemorate Juneteenth, the 145th anniversary of the end of slavery in the United States.
June 17, 2010
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, and this year a host of Oak Bluffs merchants will help celebrate the event by donating some of their proceeds from Saturday, June 19, to help the Martha’s Vineyard Bradley Square project.
Deon’s restaurant will host a reception on Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. as part of the celebration. Tickets are $10, available at the door.
June 17, 2010
Juneteenth is the celebration of African American freedom and achievement and the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. The event dates back to June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers, led by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Tex., with news that the war had ended and the enslaved were now free. This was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of Jan.
2009
June 18, 2009
Juneteenth is the celebration of African Ameri can freedom and achievement and the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Tex., with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation — which had become official on Jan. 1, 1863.
1996
July 9, 1996
David Corbitt of Indianapolis discovered Oak Bluffs this weekend. A second-year law student, Mr. Corbitt traveled here at the urging of a college friend.
Serena Henry came from Atlanta, and Phyllis Buford came from St. Louis, with her family. She joined friends from Kansas City, Mo.
Bobby Hall traveled here from Florida, and he had a great time.
“It doesn’t get much better than this,” said Mr. Hall, who joined about 800 people Friday night for live music, dancing and sunset at Inkwell Beach.
