Proclaiming Freedom

June 17, 2013
Communications Staff
A rock painted with a dove and the words "Freedom Juneteenth 2013"
Photo credit: John Seyfried

Oberlin's annual Juneteenth festival took place Saturday, June 15, on Tappan Square. Featuring food, music, arts, crafts, and more, the festival came at the end of a week of events commemorating Juneteenth, or June 19, 1865, when slaves in Texas were emancipated—nearly two and half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Oberlinians have celebrated Juneteenth for two decades, and in 2004 City Council established it as an official day of commemoration and celebration.

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Photo Gallery

Juneteenth 2013

Three men dressed in northern civil war uniforms
Members of the 5th United States Colored Troops Company G, a Civil War reenacting unit, took part in the Juneteenth 2013 parade and festival.
 Photo credit: John Seyfried
A group of people perform music on a stage set up beside a sidewalk
The gospel group BOZ (http://juneteenthoberlin.com/boz) (Brothers of Zion) performed during the Juneteenth festival.
 Photo credit: John Seyfried
A man plays a soprano saxophone
Ellis Williams (http://juneteenthoberlin.com/ellis_williams), a 14-year-old saxophonist from Cincinnati, performed during the Juneteenth festival.
 Photo credit: John Seyfried
A group of men perform vocally on a stage
The King's Men of Oberlin's Mt. Zion Baptist Church performed during the Juneteenth festival.
 Photo credit: John Seyfried
One person seated at a weaving mill while two others observe
Spinning and weaving demonstrations were among the many presentations that took place during the Juneteenth festival.
 Photo credit: John Seyfried
Three men dressed in northern civil war uniforms
A group of people perform music on a stage set up beside a sidewalk
A man plays a soprano saxophone
A group of men perform vocally on a stage
One person seated at a weaving mill while two others observe

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