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Black History Society celebrates Emancipation Day
0616JUNE 10
The crowd had plenty of space to walk around Saturday at what may become Gainesville’s annual Juneteenth celebration. Vendors sold jewelry, food and crafts as the band Been There Done That played, a poet read and others spoke. - photo by NAT GURLEY
The first celebration of Juneteenth Day in Gainesville, sponsored by the Gainesville-Hall County Black History Society, was held Saturday afternoon at Midtown Greenway & Park in Gainesville. Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day and Emancipation Day, is an observance is many states to celebration the anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Texas on June 19, 1865. “I think everybody likes to be able to talk about their culture,” said Barbara Brooks, chairwoman of the society’s board.