Wednesday, June 19, 2024 marked the fourth year of celebrating Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Plant City put on a parade and a festival to commemorate the event on Saturday.
President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. This proclamation was an Executive order that freed slaves in the Confederate states—slavery had already been declared illegal in the Union states. The Proclamation changed the legal status of more than 3.5 million black Americans. However, because the Civil War raged on for more than two more years, the slaves were free in name only. Many believe the Civil War ended on April 9, 1865, when Robert E. Lee surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia to the Union’s Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. However, in fact, that was just one of the Confederate armies. It took another 6 months for the rest of Confederate forces to surrender.
Texas became the remaining problem. Because Texas had escaped much of the destruction of the Civil War, escaping Confederates from other states flooded Texas and brought slaves with them. The influence of these Confederates, and the political barrier that Texas had not yet ratified a state constitution kept the black Americans there still walled off from their freedom. June 19 (Juneteenth), 1865 is the day when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas and took control of the state to make sure all of the slaves there were freed. The leader of the troops, General Gordon Granger, read the Emancipation Proclamation to the slaves on that day, and celebration broke out.
In Plant City 159 years later, the Juneteenth parade began at the corner of South Evers Street and West Ball Street. For safety, police blocked intersecting roads along the route. Two riders on horseback from the Kick in Spurs Rodeo led the parade. “I love the parade,” said Plant Citian Joann Joyce. “Every year I watch it.”
Plant Citians from civic groups such as Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and Mt Olive Baptist Church carried signs, flags and followed on foot and in vehicles. Plant City Police Department motorcycles, trucks, and cars joined them, along with a Plant City Fire Rescue truck, and Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Deputies. Several county and Plant City officials also joined the parade. Along the way, marchers, including law enforcement and fire, threw beads to onlookers and handed out other items. Mayor Nate Kilton walked while also handing out beads. The Cougar Pride Marching Unit from Lockhart Elementary Magnet added flair to the parade with their drumming and flag twirling. “I enjoyed the parade,” said onlooker Margaret Lewis. “It was fun for the little kids.”
The parade turned off Ball Street onto Waller Street and ended at Ronald L. Snowden Park. A food truck and several booths, including one that offered face painting, stood in the park along with a bouncy house and an inflatable waterslide for children. Coleman and Rasheda Haughbrook traveled from Haines City to celebrate Juneteenth in Plant City. “It is a beautiful celebration of community and legacy,” Rasheda commented.
Music filled the air and kids played on the inflatables.“I think it is nice honoring what Juneteenth means,” said Lenard Brown, who was born and raised in Plant City. “It is a good thing for the community—very positive.”