The Bristol Middle Passage Port Marker Project will be holding a free event marking the national Juneteenth holiday, June 19, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Saint Michael's Church Parish House, 399 Hope St.

Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 in which enslaved people in Galveston, Texas received the news that the Emancipation Proclamation, an executive order freeing enslaved African Americans, had been issued. Though the order was issued January 1, 1863, it took two and a half years for the information to be shared with the enslaved community in Galveston.

In following years, many southerners marked the day with prayer services, rodeos, fairs, and feasts. While Juneteenth has been recognized in many black communities for decades, it was only in 2021 that the date was established as a national holiday, allowing more people to celebrate and learn its history.

The Education Committee of the Bristol Middle Passage Port Marker Project, led by educator Mattie Kemp of the Pennfield School, has organized a family event featuring speakers, music, a singer and storyteller, crafts for children, delicious African foods, and more. Kemp clarifies the reasons why it’s important for all Americans to embrace this holiday.

“If you look at the Middle Passage and the people who were enslaved, including indigenous people, the top 10 slavers are from Rhode Island — mainly Newport and Bristol,” said Kemp, of the industry that dominated the Rhode Island economy for years in the 18th and early 19th century. “Most of the people in town were involved on some level, even people who weren’t actively involved on board ships in the trade were involved, as most of the wealth in town was tied to the trade, from shipbuilding to the distillery to manufacturing glass for the distillery.”

“Even though this started in Texas, and it has been a longer time coming here, it’s important for Bristol to acknowledge this past, and what it specifically means to Bristol, and beyond Bristol.”

The event will begin with a welcome from Bishop Nicholas Knisely of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island. In addition to a short speaking program, a series of educational panels will be on view explaining the history and the holiday, as well as the stories of actual enslaved and freed black and indigenous populations of Bristol. In addition to the singer and storyteller, children will have enjoy crafts, including coloring books that have been created especially for this teaching and reconciliation event.

“We’re just hoping the biggest part will be the food, and learning about Juneteenth,” said Kemp.

The Bristol Middle Passage Port Marker Project, sponsors of this event, are actively fundraising for a a memorial to be sited in Independence Park, and are about halfway to their goal. For more information or to contribute, please visit bristolmiddlepassageportmarkerproject.org.