On Monday, (June 19) Leimert Park Village was filled with thousands of LA natives and over 300 Black-owned businesses to help celebrate this year’s Juneteenth holiday. Leimert Park is no stranger in hosting annual Juneteenth events but this year was by far their biggest!
The event was filled with food vendors, a pop-up skating rink, activities for the youth, music from the African Drum Circle, and hundreds of Black-owned businesses selling merch.
50 & Forever by Rotation powered by Amazon music led this year’s lineup. Across the park were five stages where the talented LaRussell, Kalan.Frfr, Alex Vaughn, Hip-Hop legend Wale and Home Grown Radio’s very own DJ Hed rocked the stage.
Oakland rapper Too $hort hit the stage performing his classic hit song “The Ghetto” dedicated to the “OGs” and low-rider culture that became popular in the 80s in the Crenshaw district.
This year “Pray For The Hood” and “Party In My Living Room” collabed, bringing West Coast artist Kamiyah, Shady Blu, Six Sev and many more on stage, and hosted Black-owned brands like Dead Homie$. TRAP Clothing, That’s A Awful Lot Of Cough Syrup and more. Other local upcoming artists were also in attendance like AJ, The One, Cocoa Sarai, Thurz, Zyah Belle and much more.
Jazmine Sullivan was supposed to headline this year’s Juneteenth festival but canceled her performance due to a small crowd outburst that caused a safety concern. According to LA TACO who spoke to a LAPD spokesperson said, “..adequate resources were available.” They added that there were no other public safety issues at the festival.”
Despite the disruptive ending of the festival. The celebration was still a huge success.
Juneteenth recently became a federal holiday back in June of 2021 under the Biden Administration. Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is an annual holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States.
On June 19, 1865, union general Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and proclaimed the end of slavery nearly two and half years after the emancipation proclamation had been issued. Juneteenth represents a significant milestone in the journey toward freedom, symbolizing the resilience , the struggle, and perseverance of African Americans.
Members of the South LA community honored the rich cultural heritage this weekend celebrating , achievements and contributions of the African American community, while also promoting education, Black-owned businesses, unity and the ongoing fight for social justice issues and equality.
Article by Shivonne Peart