We are so thrilled to be celebrating an event that was a critical reason Deep Ellum was founded, formed, and grew to the ever-thriving cultural and entertainment district it is today. Juneteenth, also known as Jubilee Day, Freedom Day, or Liberation Day, is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of individuals who enslaved across the United States. 

Although the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed almost 3 years earlier, slaves in the farther reaches of the nation were not yet aware of their newly proclaimed freedom until Union Major General Gordon Granger announced the federal order that made all slaves in Texas free on June 19, 1865. This momentous occasion in US history began being celebrated among African-American communities in 1866 and has continued to grow as a celebration of Black culture, arts, and cuisine. Known as America’s Second Independence Day, Juneteenth was an important factor in the movement of newly freed slaves across Texas forming communities across the state, including many in Dallas. 

As freedmen arrived and settled in Dallas, Deep Ellum was founded in 1873. Deep Ellum arose as a center of music, commerce, and entertainment for freedmen. The neighborhood remains a cultural hub today with many local businesses, musicians, and artists inspired by Deep Ellum’s unique and storied history. 

We want to encourage everyone to explore celebrations happening in your communities and neighborhoods, such as the event taking place at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center right outside of Deep Ellum from 10:00am-12:00pm on June 19, 2021.