Carrying the torch: Brownwood locals celebrate Juneteenth in unity

BROWNWOOD, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and is now recognized as a federal holiday. It marks the day in 1865 when the news of emancipation finally reached the last group of enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Here in the Heartland, Juneteenth has been honored with annual celebrations for decades.

This year, the holiday festivities will last from Thursday to Sunday. Draco Miller, with Revitalizing Our Communities, is on the committee planning the events, taking over the responsibility his father used to have. He said he is happy to continue the legacy and education in the city.

“It’s exciting to be able to put your mark on things, that’s exciting to be able to look in the older generations’ eyes and they say, well done, because you’re doing the things that they laid the foundation for. Now you’re laying more and more foundation. So, it means a lot,” Miller explained. “I was born and raised here in Brownwood; there has been some type of community celebration.”

The festivities are a tradition that most Brownwood natives are familiar with. Sareta Delgado has attended since she was a little girl, when her mother was planning them. Now that the torch has been passed to her, she is happy to see it grow to what it is today.

“She wanted to keep everything free. That was her main thing,” Delgado said. “I’d like to say my mom, who has passed on now, is looking down from heaven and saying, ‘Well done.’ I know her hope and her vision, because she loved Brownwood and she loved Brownwood’s people, was for all of us to come together in unity. She always wanted it to be city-wide.”

With parades, a white linen party, and more, Draco said the holiday should be celebrated just as every other one.

“Much like we celebrate great Independence Day, right? Much like we celebrate Cinco de Mayo. We’re also celebrating Juneteenth because it’s the freedom of our nation and the people within our nation,” Miller said.

Click here to see the schedule of events.