Juneteenth Freedom Celebration Lexington, NC Community

06/19/2026

📚 *Knowledge is Powerful*

When we know better, we can share accurate information and help others understand the history that shapes our communities.

As we celebrate this weekend, it is important that we not only participate in the festivities but also understand why we celebrate. Learning the history of Juneteenth helps us appreciate the sacrifices, resilience, and triumphs that led to freedom for millions of Americans and why this day remains significant today.

We strengthen our communities when we take time to listen, learn, and engage in meaningful conversations. Too often, misunderstandings arise when assumptions replace facts. Building relationships, partnerships, and collaboration with community members and local leaders helps create positive change. If we care about our cities, towns, counties, and states, we must be willing to get involved, ask questions, and work together.

🔴 Purpose of a Juneteenth Proclamation
A Juneteenth Proclamation is *not an award given to an individual person.* It is an official public declaration issued by elected leaders, such as presidents, governors, county commissioners, mayors, and city councils, to formally recognize the historical significance of Juneteenth and its impact on our nation.

⚫️ The tradition of commemorating Juneteenth traces back to June 19, 1865, when Union Major General Gordon Granger issued General Orders No. 3 in Galveston, Texas, informing more than 250,000 enslaved African Americans that they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed.

🟡 Today, Juneteenth proclamations serve several important purposes:

• To officially recognize Juneteenth as a day of remembrance and celebration.
• To acknowledge the end of slavery in the United States and honor those who endured it.
• To educate communities about this important chapter of American history.
• To encourage reflection, unity, civic engagement, and continued efforts toward equality and justice.
• To demonstrate a community's commitment to recognizing the contributions and experiences of African Americans.

🟢 When a city council, county commission, governor, or other government body issues a Juneteenth Proclamation, they are not honoring one individual. They are acknowledging the historical significance of Juneteenth and recognizing the importance of preserving and sharing this history with future generations.

Knowledge leads to understanding. Understanding leads to unity. Let us continue to learn from one another, celebrate our shared history, and build stronger communities together.

Thank you to City of Lexington - Government Council, The City of Thomasville, NC - Government Council, and NC Governor Josh Stein for our Proclamations to be presented during our Juneteenth weekend festivities. This is our hope toward a new movement in celebrating Juneteenth across our communities of Lexington, Thomasville, and Davidson County.

Happy Juneteenth! 🎉✊🏾📚🎨🎶
"We are stronger when we build bridges instead of boundaries."

❤️🖤💚💛❤️🤍💙

06/18/2026

Come and Get It!! We're open until 8 pm!

06/18/2026

🎉 We are excited to announce the itinerary for our 7th Annual Juneteenth Freedom Family Celebration!

Join us on Friday, June 19, 2026, from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM at Arts Davidson County, 202 N. Main Street, Lexington, NC 27292, for an afternoon filled with education, culture, creativity, and community.

This year's celebration is intentionally focused on our youth, to reach them, teach them, and ensure they know and understand their history. Throughout the afternoon, attendees will enjoy engaging activities designed to inspire learning, reflection, and meaningful conversations about the significance of Juneteenth.

We have also expanded our efforts this year to make our celebration more inclusive by bringing together residents from across Davidson County. Our goal is to build stronger connections and greater unity among our towns, cities, and communities.

✨ Event Highlights:
• Youth-focused history education
• Interactive art experiences
• Music and cultural presentations
• Community engagement activities
• Local vendors
• Fun for the entire family

This free event is open to the public, and we invite everyone to come together as we celebrate freedom, resilience, and hope. Let us pause for a moment to unite for a brighter future. We are more powerful together and far more alike than we often realize.

We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors, community partners, volunteers, and supporters. We are also honored by the Proclamations recognizing this important celebration. These acknowledgments feel like the beginning of a positive and powerful shift toward greater understanding, inclusion, and unity.

❤️💛💚🖤❤️🤍💙 We look forward to celebrating with you!

06/16/2026

Treston "KloudNine" Rogers will be performing live on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at the Breeden Insurance Amphitheater Juneteenth Freedom Fest.

06/15/2026

06/15/2026

❤️🖤💚❤️🤍💙 Understanding the Colors of Juneteenth

As we celebrate Juneteenth, many people notice the different colors displayed at events, parades, festivals, and community gatherings. While both sets of colors honor Black history and freedom, they represent different parts of that story.

The Pan-African colors, Red, Black, and Green were popularized through the movement led by Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in the early 1900s. These colors symbolize:

❤️ Red – The blood shed by African ancestors and those who fought for freedom and liberation.

🖤 Black – The people of the African diaspora throughout the world.

💚 Green – The rich land, heritage, and future of Africa.

These colors represent global Black unity, pride, resilience, and liberation.

The official Juneteenth flag features Red, White, and Blue, reflecting the American flag while telling a unique story of Black Americans' journey from enslavement to freedom. The flag honors June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Texas finally learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.

Some individuals and organizations also reference FBA (Foundational Black Americans), a lineage-based designation that identifies Black Americans who are direct descendants of enslaved people in the United States. This perspective emphasizes the unique historical experiences and contributions of Black Americans whose ancestors endured slavery in America.

Today, many Juneteenth celebrations incorporate both the Pan-African colors and the official Juneteenth flag. Together, they tell a powerful story:

❤️🖤💚 The global struggle for Black freedom, unity, and African heritage.

❤️🤍💙 The uniquely American story of emancipation, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of equality.

No matter which colors you see, they all serve as reminders of freedom, history, perseverance, and the importance of continuing to educate future generations about the significance of Juneteenth.

Happy Juneteenth!
Let us honor the past, celebrate progress, and continue building a brighter future together.

06/14/2026

06/13/2026

*PSA*
Juneteenth (June 19) is an official federal holiday. As a result, federal offices, courts, and banks observing the Federal Reserve schedule will be closed, and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will halt all mail delivery and close its post offices.

02/22/2026

Know Your History

THE DAY THE GUNFIRE ECHOED: THE ASSASSINATION OF MALCOLM X — FEBRUARY 21, 1965
The Moment the Shots Broke the Room

On February 21, 1965, a man stepped toward a podium inside the Audubon Ballroom in New York City. He greeted the crowd calmly.

Seconds later, gunfire tore through the room.

People screamed. Chairs flipped. Smoke filled the air.

The man collapsing to the floor was Malcolm X.

He was 39 years old.

A Leader in Transition

By 1965, Malcolm X was no longer the same man America first met in the early 1960s.

He had broken publicly from the Nation of Islam, the group that helped shape his rise. His split from its leader, Elijah Muhammad, was bitter and highly visible.

Malcolm had begun rethinking parts of his ideology. After traveling to Mecca in 1964, he embraced a broader view of global solidarity. He spoke about human rights instead of only civil rights. He criticized racism but also began building alliances across racial lines.

This evolution made him influential—and isolated.

He had powerful enemies.

Tension Before the Event

In the weeks leading up to February 21, threats against Malcolm increased. His home in Queens had been firebombed just days earlier while his wife and children were inside.

He knew he was a target.

Still, he continued speaking publicly.

That Sunday afternoon, he was scheduled to address supporters at the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan.

Security was present, but it was limited. The atmosphere was tense but not chaotic.

Then a disturbance broke out in the crowd.

The Assassination

Witnesses reported that a man shouted from the audience, creating a distraction. As attention shifted, multiple gunmen rushed forward.

Malcolm X was shot repeatedly at close range.

Chaos followed.

He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but doctors could not save him. He was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

His wife, Betty Shabazz, was pregnant with their twins at the time.

He left behind six daughters.

The Arrests and Convictions

Three men were arrested and convicted for the assassination:

Muhammad A. Aziz

Khalil Islam

Thomas Hagan

For decades, questions surrounded the case. Hagan admitted involvement but maintained that the other two men were not directly involved.

In 2021, after a re-investigation, Aziz and Islam were exonerated. Their convictions were vacated after evidence showed authorities had withheld key information.

This development reopened long-standing concerns about how the investigation was handled.

The FBI and Surveillance

At the time of his death, Malcolm X was under heavy surveillance. Federal agencies monitored him closely. The FBI’s COINTELPRO program targeted Black leaders and organizations considered politically disruptive.

While direct involvement of federal agencies in the assassination has not been proven in court, the level of monitoring and intelligence awareness has fueled debate for decades.

Documents later revealed that law enforcement had informants inside organizations connected to Malcolm.

Questions remain.

A Funeral Watched by Thousands

Malcolm X’s funeral in Harlem drew thousands of mourners. Leaders from across the political spectrum acknowledged his impact.

Even those who disagreed with his methods could not deny his influence.

He had challenged America’s racial structure directly. He had rejected gradualism. He had demanded dignity and self-determination.

His voice had been sharp.

His death was louder.

The Shift After His Death

After February 21, 1965, the Black freedom struggle changed tone.

Some activists became more cautious. Others grew more militant. The emergence of organizations like the Black Panther Party reflected Malcolm’s influence on a younger generation.

He had spoken about self-defense, global unity, and economic power.

Even in death, those ideas spread.

The Resolution

Malcolm X was assassinated, but his ideas were not buried with him.

He evolved publicly. He admitted growth. He challenged systems directly. He forced uncomfortable conversations about race, power, and identity in America.

His death remains one of the most debated political assassinations in U.S. history.

What is clear is this:

On February 21, 1965, bullets ended a life—but they amplified a legacy.

02/08/2026

Black History Month Chicken Edition

The Black People & Chicken Stereotype Is Rooted in Racism Not Reality.

The stereotype linking Black people to fried chicken didn’t come from culture it came from Jim Crow–era racism and propaganda.

After slavery ended, many formerly enslaved Black families raised chickens because:

• Chickens were affordable
• They didn’t require land ownership
• They could be sold for income
• Fried chicken was easy to prepare and sell

Black women in particular became successful entrepreneurs selling fried chicken to travelers, rail workers, and towns. It was one of the first ways many Black families built economic independence after slavery.

That success threatened white businesses.

So during the late 1800s and early 1900s, racist caricatures began portraying Black people as:
• Greedy
• Dirty
• Uncivilized
• Obsessed with chicken

These images were spread through:
• Newspapers
• Minstrel shows
• Postcards
• Cartoons
• Early movies

The goal was simple: turn Black success into a joke so it could be dismissed and disrespected.

Today, fried chicken is a global food enjoyed by every race, yet only Black people were turned into a stereotype for it on purpose.

This wasn’t accidental.
It was manufactured racism used to dehumanize.

📚 Truth: The fried chicken stereotype is a product of America’s post-slavery backlash against Black freedom, mobility, and entrepreneurship.

🧠 Lesson: When you see a stereotype, always ask who created it, and who benefits from it?
- Ladrica Norfleet