Juneteenth celebrated in Oak Grove

People are celebrating across the country as Friday is Juneteenth, the day we celebrate when the last of the enslaved people in the United States in 1865 learned of their freedom.

It’s also known as Jubilee Day, Freedom Day, Emancipation Day and Second Independence Day, and it’s celebrated by people across the nation, especially after it was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021. It specifically honors June 19, 1865 when enslaved peoples in Galveston Bay, Texas learned that they had been freed by an executive order best known as the Emancipation Proclamation.

Locally, a lot of people celebrate the occasion on August 8, which is when people in this region learned of their freedom, but that didn’t stop celebrations for Juneteenth. That includes in Oak Grove, where city officials hosted a short ceremony and proclamation reading.

Nanny Cobb provided some history on Oak Grove and businesses and people who called the area home, saying that while there were challenges, there was also plenty of love between people of all races and backgrounds.

Oak Grove Police Chief Victor Lynch says while he may be the first African American to serve as police chief there, but he has confidence he won’t be the last, and he’s grateful to live in this city and this country.

While Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom and the contributions of the countless contributions made by African Americans that built this country into what it is today, it’s also a reminder of work still yet to be done. Oak Grove officials encouraged all citizens to take a moment to pause, reflect and embrace our shared journey of freedom.