CHICAGO — On a sunlit Thursday in Washington Park, the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center brought together residents from across the city and suburbs for its Annual Juneteenth Community Barbecue — a celebration rich with food, music, history, and reflection.
Families gathered on the museum’s lawn, children played tug-of-war, and vendors lined walkways as thousands came to honor Juneteenth, the federal holiday marking the final enforcement of emancipation for enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865 — over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
A Full Day Of Celebration And Education
Running from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., the event included:
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Free museum admission
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Cultural panels on Black power and community ownership
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The Mansa Musa Marketplace with local Black-owned vendors
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A community barbecue and live entertainment
For many, the gathering served both as a celebration and a moment of defiance in the face of rising political attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs nationwide.
“Our history is under attack. Education is under attack,” said Perri Irmer, DuSable’s president and CEO. “Juneteenth is not a Black holiday — it’s an American holiday.”
Bringing People From Across Illinois
Among the attendees was Nathan Whitehead, who drove a bus of 50 people from Freeport, many of whom were visiting the museum for the first time.
“It’s becoming more of a popular holiday,” Whitehead said. “It’s a great day to celebrate — especially when you’re older and realize what it means.”
Others traveled from the suburbs, like Dominique Steward of Glen Ellyn, who returned to DuSable after visiting as a child. This year’s event, she said, felt especially powerful given national tensions.
“It shows how far we’ve come as a nation. It makes these moments so much more special to see the solidarity.”
Vendors, Workshops, and Legacy
Cherita Parrish, a Naperville-based small business owner, set up a booth for her handmade decor brand, Decor by Cherita P. Although it was her first time vending at DuSable’s celebration, she said the experience was well worth the early morning setup.
“Somebody told me this is a good place to come,” Parrish said. “It’s historic. You have the DuSable Museum, it’s all about celebrating our freedom.”
The museum also used the opportunity to promote its year-long Introduction to African American Studies course, with June’s theme focusing on Black power, knowledge, and economic empowerment — a topic embedded into every part of the day’s programming.
Panels included a session on religion’s role in the Black Power movement and a discussion on community ownership in real estate, hosted by the Diverse Developers Conference.
Did you attend DuSable’s Juneteenth BBQ this year or celebrate elsewhere in the city or suburbs? Tell us what the holiday means to you and how you honor it in your family — comment now on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
