Duluth’s NAACP Hold Biggest Juneteenth Celebration for 50th Year

DULUTH, Minn. — Juneteenth has only been a recognized federal holiday for the last three years, but the day has been celebrated here in Duluth for the last 50 years.

With this year’s celebration at the Central Hillside Community Center being one of the largest. The event is hosted each year by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, whose mission is to ensure equal rights for all people and eliminate race-based discrimination.

“You know it was super important in 1865. We were first known that African Americans were first known to that slavery was no longer legal within America. And we know that it took years and years after even that declaration was signed to get the notice out to everybody. But this is where we celebrate our Fourth of July and where we celebrate that we really felt that we had a voice and we had a community within our country. And so it’s important for us to celebrate a part of our history and celebrate it and share it and educate it with everybody else.” 

It’s not a celebration without free food. This year’s NAACP Juneteenth celebration also had over 70 informational tables from community partners like Blessing Royal Collections LLC. Where business owner Jasmine Flowers says Juneteenth connects her to people outside of her salon in Hermantown.

“Just pretty much getting out with the black and white community and we’re just loving on each other, showing pretty much everything that we could do here. Out in the community, you know, just being out here and just shopping. Seeing all these wonderful products and stuff that we sell out here.”

Juneteenth in Duluth is community focus, supporting and promoting black owned businesses and their products.