'An American holiday': Nashville celebrates Juneteenth with music, dance and more
Gary Burke looked on proudly in his Civil War-era U.S. Colored Troops uniform as Juneteenth festivities unfolded at the Tennessee State Museum.
He watched as the Sankofa African Drum and Dance group performed, filling the Great Hall with drum beats while dancers in brightly colored outfits got the crowd clapping and moving along with them.
"Juneteenth is not only an African American holiday, it's an American holiday," Burke said. "It's a chance for people from all backgrounds to celebrate emancipation for oppressed people. It's very important that we celebrate together today."
Burke said he is the great-great-grandson of Peter Bailey, who was part of Company K in the 17th Regiment of the U.S. Colored Troops and a veteran of the Battle of Nashville in 1864. Burke has been dressing in full uniform for reenactments for 20 years and had plans to be part of the Juneteenth615 event at Historic Fort Negley later that night.
Juneteenth commemorates the day the last group of enslaved people were freed in America. While the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863, it took until June 19, 1865, for Union troops to free the last of those enslaved in Galveston, Texas. The holiday has long been celebrated in the Black community. Then-President Joe Biden declared it a federal holiday in 2021, dubbing it Juneteenth National Independence Day.
More: What does Juneteenth celebrate? Meaning and origins, explained
A few miles away from the Tennessee State Museum, the National Museum of African American Music opened its doors to mark the day. The public was welcomed in for the free event, which included access to the museum's galleries, live performances, interactive art projects for kids, a screening of a special documentary by the Metro Human Relations Commission and a drum circle that visitors could join.
Ariel and Whitney Giles-Paul drove from Murfreesboro to attend with their 3-year-old daughter, Journey. They were excited to experience the museum for the first time and learn more about the rich history of African American music.
"We just wanted Journey to experience this, too," Whitney Giles-Paul said, as a recording of the Fisk Jubilee singers performing an African spiritual played in the background.
This year's Juneteenth celebration comes in a time fraught with worries over President Donald Trump's efforts to end diversity, equity and inclusion efforts nationwide. In Tennessee, lawmakers passed the "Dismantling DEI Departments Act" earlier this year.
More: Trump DEI attacks have changed how companies celebrate Juneteenth
Ariel Giles-Paul said she worried about Juneteenth events, including the one at the museum, being a possible target for violence amid political tension. Pro-immigration and anti-Trump rallies have sprung up in recent days around the country.
"Even today, I told (my wife), 'Should we even go? What if something happens?'" she said. "But I'm of the mindset that we just have to keep going and keep persisting. We have to live our life. Plus we have a little one. We have to be good role models for her."
Reach reporter Rachel Wegner via email at RAwegner@tennessean.com. You can also find her on Twitter or Bluesky under the handle RachelAnnWegner.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Juneteenth in Nashville: Celebrations include music, dance, history
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