Celebrating Juneteenth at the Harvey B. Gantt Center in Uptown

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Families had a chance not just to celebrate, but to learn more about Juneteenth at the Harvey B. Gantt Center in Uptown on Friday. The event included fun stuff, like face paining and kids arts and crafts, but also film screenings and a panel discussion about the history of Juneteenth.

For years, the holiday was mostly celebrated in Texas. Ingrid Travis James with the Gantt Center says, “It was kind of really popular in that region of the country. But now with it being a federal holiday, the kids now they have the opportunity to learn what I didn’t learn as a kid. So yeah, it’s important to have families out, to have the children out and learn and celebrate.”

Organizers say the event was a good way to gather, reflect and celebrate freedom together.