Celebre Juneteenth este fin de semana
Juneteenth is a nationally celebrated commemoration of the end to slavery in the United States, taking place annually on June 19. Starting this year, Juneteenth is a New York state holiday and a federal holiday. At NYRR, our staff is observing Juneteenth as a holiday from work on Friday, June 18, and an opportunity to take time to celebrate, reflect, and commemorate the day.
How are you planning to spend your Juneteenth? We encourage you to take a Juneteenth run or walk! If you plan to be in NYC, check out a few ideas below for ways to celebrate, either on your own or with local running organizations. Outside of NYC, connect with local running and cultural groups to find meaningful and inspiring ways to make this Juneteenth special.
Juneteenth Grove
On June 19, 2020, NYC Parks & Recreation established Juneteenth Grove at Brooklyn’s Cadman Plaza as part of an effort to rename city parks in honor of Black Americans. As part of a tree dedication at the location, the city planted 19 new flowering trees that flank the park’s entrance on Tillary Street.
An NYC Parks press release last June stated: “As the steward of nearly three million trees, Parks recognizes the Black community’s complicated relationship with trees—they represent thousands lynched and their roots symbolize the depth and connectivity the Black community has to this Nation.”
Seneca Village Site
An area of Central Park near the West 85th Street entrance was home to Seneca Village—a community of predominantly African-Americans, many of whom owned property—from 1825 to 1857. In 1855 the approximately 225 residents comprised roughly two-thirds African Americans. For the African American property owners, Seneca Village provided residential stability and an investment in the future. Today, an informative plaque marks the site of Seneca Village; learn more on the Central Park Conservancy website and making a visit.
Juneteenth 5K Walk/Run/Barbecue
NYC-based running crews and community groups will hold a 5K solidarity march in the form of a 5K walk/run in Manhattan, starting at High Bridge Park and finishing at Morningside Park. Visit JuneteenthNYC.org to learn more and sign up for this free event, which will be followed by a concert and barbecue highlighting local eateries and food trucks.
And More
Check out more Juneteenth celebrations in NYC at GothamToGo.
Visit our listing of local running clubs to connect with NYC clubs that may be planning Juneteenth runs or other celebrations.
Visit the Black Gotham Experience (BGX) website to learn more about BGX's efforts to create media at the intersection of scholarship and aesthetics that illustrates the impact of the African Diaspora missing from collective consciousness as well as the public square. BGX reimagines the spaces directly impacted by the African Diaspora as human stories explored through interactive walks, talks, events, and art. The heart of these experiences are five core stories that revisit Manhattan in 1623 and move forward through three centuries.