Sunday, June 20, 2010

Colorful parade celebrates Juneteenth

Colorful parade celebrates Juneteenth

Colorful parade celebrates Juneteenth


Sunday, June 20, 2010
Kweku Acquaah marches down Fillmore Street in the Juneteenth Parade.
Slavery in America was supposed to have ended 147 years ago, when President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. But it wasn't until June 19, 1865, when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger announced in Galveston, Texas, that the Civil War was over, that black people knew they were free.
In San Francisco, hundreds celebrated that joyful anniversary - known around the world as Juneteenth - with a colorful parade through city streets that culminated in a huge party at Civic Center Plaza on Saturday.
"This is a celebration of African American freedom - but it's also a celebration for all people, no matter what color," said Montel Jennings of San Francisco's Juneteenth organizing board. "Freedom is the common ground that we celebrate and cherish."
The Bay Area Desperados - four big guys on orange and red Harleys - led off the pageant as Shalamar's "The Second Time Around" blared from the lead bike.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/20/BART1E10RF.DTL&type=education#ixzz0rPkTDsap