The Tempe History Museum and the African American Advisory Committee hosted a free Juneteenth celebration from 6-8 p.m. on June 20. This family-friendly evening included costumes of the era, a poetry slam, stepping, music, skits, soul food and a recipe exchange. Special guest: Grammy award winning gospel artist Daniel Winans also performed. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating 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, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. http://www.tempe.gov/city-hall/community-services/tempe-history-museum

Photography by Alvin Johnson
Alvin Johnson Photography
alvinjohnsonphotography@gmail.com