Juneteenth

The bus tour took place the weekend of June 15, and visited several Central Florida historical sites including Ocoee and Eatonville.

On this episode of Florida Matters, we spoke with leaders in the greater Tampa Bay region’s Black LGBTQIA community about representation and the importance of both Pride and Juneteenth.

On this episode of Florida Matters, we spoke with leaders in the greater Tampa Bay region’s Black LGBTQIA community about representation and the importance of both Pride and Juneteenth.

Kevin Parrott will lead the one-day workshop, "The Shout" and he said there will be audience participation.

There are many different events that Tampa Bay residents can choose from to commemorate Juneteenth.

Juneteenth has only been recognized as a federal holiday since 2021. But Black American communities have marked the occasion for more than 150 years.

In celebration of the holiday, the Tampa Bay region offers a variety of events.

Director Ryan Watson, who currently teaches at USF, says most of the all Black cast of actors are from the Tampa Bay area. But they had to outsource the martial artists from across the country.

On June 19th, 1865, enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas were set free, officially ending slavery in the U.S. The first Juneteenth was celebrated in Texas a year later.

Even though June 19 is the date of the federal holiday, Florida’s emancipation day is celebrated on May 20.

The festivities included lots of speeches, music and the ritual reading of the Emancipation Proclamation in its entirety

Hillsborough County just made Juneteenth a county holiday. Where do Tampa Bay’s other counties stand?