Canton Anti-Racism Alliance Update and Juneteenth Events

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The Canton Anti-Racism Alliance turns two this June. Here’s an update from the group spotlighting their accomplishments, goals, and a list of 2022 Juneteenth Celebrations. 

Canton Anti-Racism Alliance Members,

June 19th (“Juneteenth”) celebrates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in 1865. Consistent with our mission and emphasis on unification, the Canton Anti-Racism Alliance (“Alliance”) will continue to share and celebrate the accomplishments of the past two years with our neighbors and neighboring communities. 

Since our inception in the summer of 2020, we successfully petitioned the city of Baltimore to remove a monument of an enslaver that was centrally located in our community. We also hosted two virtual “Conversations With” forums featuring African American authors and, on Juneteenth 2021, we honored the heritage of abolitionist Fredrick Douglass in the dedication of two historic panels on Boston Street.  The event was well-attended and received coverage by local news stations. Simultaneously, we have expanded our outreach initiatives to further engage our community in affecting long-term, impactful changes.

This year, while we hoped to host a local celebration on Juneteenth, (thank you to those who attended the meetings thus far), we found the event deserving of a much greater effort and requiring a longer planning period. We are now in the early stages of developing programming for Juneteenth 2023, and enthusiastically encourage and invite you to become involved.

We are currently forming committees that will highlight the history, triumphs, and art of African Americans right here in our community. We aim to develop programs that will span the year, culminating in a community-wide celebration at next year’s Juneteenth event. 

 The following are projected:

  • Continued “Conversations with” local African American authors

  • Musical and visual celebrations of local African American artists

  • A showcase of local African American chefs and restaurateurs

If you have interest in any of these initiatives or have additional suggestions, we welcome your input and participation — in any capacity — in the coming months. 

We are also excited to share that the Alliance and the Canton Community Association (“CCA”) have launched a committee to research, outline, and implement a process to rename O’Donnell Square Park. This will be in conjunction with Baltimore City Rec n Parks, and we should have more details on this next month.

Canton is evolving to become the welcoming, equitable, inclusive, and diverse community that we all have envisioned. Given the recent changes within Canton, we are very optimistic that our vision is within reach. We see our Southeast neighborhood being on the vanguard of unification in Baltimore. Consider this your invitation to work with us in the upcoming months to bring this vision to life.

Yours for the Community,
The Alliance

2022 Juneteenth Events in Baltimore City

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, TX with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – which had become official January 1, 1863. Here are a few Juneteenth Celebrations happening across Baltimore City.

6/18 & 19 Afram
Afram is one of the largest African American festivals on the East Coast! Hosted in Baltimore City’s Druid Hill Park, this 745-acre urban oasis draws crowds of over 100,000 each year! For two days, people from all walks of life come together to enjoy national entertainment, local eats, and much more.  For more info, visit https://aframbaltimore.com/.

6/19: Juneteenth Open Air Celebration at The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum
Visit the museum’s Great Blacks Field from 12 to 6 p.m. to ring in Freedom Day with local tunes and tasty bites galore. Stick around to hear special guest speakers implore the power of a good education—which just so happens to be the theme of this year’s spaced-out Juneteenth fête.

6/19: Playwrights Collective Showcase
The Playwrights Collective, a forum supporting Black women writers, will collaborate with the Fells Point Corner Theatre to feature a series of readings and filmed content in this celebration of Juneteenth. 

6/19: Freedom Day Juneteenth Celebration
The Freedom Day Festival is fun for the whole family. Walk, bike, or rideshare to German Park in Reservoir Hill. Bring a blanket and chairs and hang with us for the day. Enjoy a day full of musical performances by local talent, games, and face painting for kids, and a celebration of dads and their families.

Sunday, June 19 • 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM EDT

German Park • 2411 Linden Avenue • Baltimore, MD 21217

REGISTER FOR FREE: https://tinyurl.com/2dv8bjtm