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UH, GREETINGS ON BEHALF OF THE JUNETEENTH HOUSTON CITYWIDE, UH, COLLABORATIVE.
UH, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE SEVEN HISTORIC BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH WITH THIS AMAZING KICKOFF.
UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR SHOWING UP FOR OUR PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY.
AND, UH, BEFORE WE GET STARTED, WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR WONDERFUL MAYOR, MAYOR WHITMEYER.
I'LL BE VERY, UH, BRIEF BECAUSE WE ARE HERE ON A SPECIAL OCCASION, A POINT IN OUR HISTORY THAT WE CAN NEVER ALLOW SOCIETY TO FORGET.
I'VE HAD A ROLE IN, UH, RECOGNIZING JUNETEENTH MY ENTIRE PUBLIC SERVICE CAREER.
HAVING SERVED WITH AL EDWARDS, UH, WAS DEDICATED TO MAKING CERTAIN THAT THE STATE RECOGNIZED THAT DAY.
AND THEN I WOULD JUST MENTION TO MY COLLEAGUES, TWO YEARS AGO ON THE SENATE FLOOR, I HAD THE REAL HONOR OF MEETING OPAL LEE, THE GRANDMOTHER OF JUNETEENTH, WHO BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE NATION AND WAS SUCCESSFUL IN MAKING A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.
SO HER PICTURES ON THE SENATE FLOOR.
SO, UH, WE ARE PROPERLY HERE TO DO OUR PART.
UH, THE NEAT THING ABOUT THE HUB THAT JUNETEENTH HOUSTON PROVIDES IS FOR MANY OF US THAT REPRESENT SEVERAL COMMUNITIES, I ALWAYS KNEW WHERE TO GO ON JUNETEENTH.
WE WERE ALWAYS IN ACRES HOME, BUT NOW MY DISTRICT IS LARGER.
AND YOU NEED TO BE INFORMED ABOUT WHERE YOU'D LIKE TO GO.
CELEBRATE THE SPECIAL OCCASION.
I'M SO EXCITED THAT WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE AND THEY'VE BEEN RECOGNIZED.
WE'RE SEEING WHAT MAKES HOUSTON SPECIAL.
UH, HOUSTON'S A GREAT CITY AND WE'RE LIVING AND WITNESSING TODAY WHAT MAKES IT SO GREAT.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE.
MR. NICHOLS, YOU PROVIDE A REAL, YOU'RE A PUBLIC SERVANT, WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT.
WHERE IN THE HECK DID HE GO? HERE HE IS.
YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU'RE EVER ON A BALLOT OR NOT, WHEN YOU ARE DOING GOOD DEEDS, YOU'RE A PUBLIC SERVANT.
SO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR BEING HERE AND, UH, LET'S, UH, LET'S ENJOY THIS OCCASION AND DO PROPER PLANNING FOR JUNETEENTH.
DID YOU INTRODUCE YOUR COUNSELOR? MM-HMM
UM, SO, UH, BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER IN, UM, THE PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND CELEBRATE, UM, THREE PEOPLE WHO THIS WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT.
THE FIRST IS TANYA DEBO, WHO MADE CERTAIN THAT THIS WAS DONE IN A WAY THAT CENTERED OUR RICH HISTORY AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HOLDING UP THE MANTLE SINCE THE FIRST JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION TO SHEILA JACKSON LEE, WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY IN CONGRESS TO HAVE JUNETEENTH RECOGNIZED AS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY.
AND TO SYLVESTER TURNER WHO STOOD BEFORE US FOUR YEARS AGO AT, AT, IN THIS VERY SPACE, AT OUR FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE, SOLIDIFYING US AS THE CITYWIDE INITIATIVE TO ENSURE THAT WHILE JUNETEENTH BRANCHES AND LIMBS HAVE CROSSED THE VERY WATERS THAT SEPARATED US FROM OUR, OUR ANCESTRAL HOMELANDS, UM, IT REMAINED ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITIES AND HEARTS OF ITS ORIGINAL PEOPLE.
UM, JOINED WITH ME ON THE STAGE ARE, UM, SEVERAL PEOPLE OF NOTE, UM, THEY WILL ALL HAVE THEIR TIME TO, UM, INTRODUCE THEMSELVES TO YOU AND SHARE SOME THINGS WITH YOU ABOUT JUNETEENTH, UM, BECAUSE WE WILL BE, UH, AT THE COOKOUT, IF YOU WILL, CELEBRATING AND TURNING UP FOR THE JUBILEE IN THE BACKYARD OF COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, PAUSE FOR A SECOND TO RECOGNIZE HER, AND YOU WILL HEAR FROM HER LATER, UM, AS WELL AS THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE, UH, STANDING BEHIND ME, UM, AND NOTED INDIVIDUALS.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, UM, LET'S START.
SO, TO BE BLACK IN THIS COUNTRY IS TO NO OPPRESSION.
IT IS TO KNOW FEAR TO BE BLACK IN THIS BODY IS TO KNOW RESISTANCE AND RESILIENCE AND TO KNOW OVERCOMING AND ACHIEVING.
BUT IT'S ALSO TO KNOW INGENUITY.
IT'S ALSO TO KNOW LOVE, TO KNOW COMMUNITY, TO KNOW JOY, AND TO KNOW THEM EXPANSIVELY.
AND SO IF YOU ASK ME WHAT JUNETEENTH HOUSTON IS, THAT IS WHAT I'LL TELL YOU IT IS.
IT'S THE WAY THAT WE TRANSMUTE THE PAIN OF SHADOW SLAVERY INTO THE JOYS OF LIBERATION.
IT'S TO TRANSFORM SCRAPS INTO GARDENS AND DINING TRADITIONS THAT ARE CELEBRATED ALL OVER THE WORLD.
IT IS TO TRANSCEND REALITY INTO HOPE, AND THEN ACTUALIZE IT.
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IT'S FOR THE JUBILEE, AND WE WELCOME YOU TO EXPERIENCE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, INSTITUTIONS AND ASSETS OF HOUSTON'S BLACK COMMUNITIES COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE IN LEGACY.A TRADITION THAT STARTED OVER 160 YEARS AGO.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT, UM, AND ACKNOWLEDGE AND GIVE SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR STEWARDING ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, THAT IS THIRD WARD CULTURAL DISTRICT, PROJECT ROW HOUSES, UM, TO OUR SPONSORS, THE HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE, THE TEXAS ART, THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS, UM, OUR CITY PARTNERS, EMANCIPATION PARK CONSERVANCY, WHOM YOU'LL HEAR FROM A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS.
UM, AND THEN TO THE DEDICATED AUDACIOUS, SACRED, INTENTIONAL, INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND AMAZING PEOPLE I GET TO WORK WITH.
UM, DAY IN AND DAY OUT, WE GET TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE JUNETEENTH HOUSTON CITYWIDE, UM, COMMITTEE.
THIS WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE, UH, WITHOUT YOU.
AND SO BEFORE I STEP AWAY, I JUST WANNA SHARE, UM, A COUPLE OF NOTES ON JUNETEENTH HOUSTON FOR THOSE WHO ARE MEETING US FOR THE FIRST TIME.
UM, JUNETEENTH HOUSTON IS A CITYWIDE COLLABORATIVE, AND IT WAS INSPIRED AS A RESPONSE TO A COMMUNITY OF STAKEHOLDERS, OF NEIGHBORS, OF FAMILIES, OF PIONEERS WHO ASKED, WHO WILL ENSURE OUR SPACE.
ONCE THE OLDEST BLACK HOLIDAY IN HOUSTON BECOMES GLOBAL, JUNETEENTH HOUSTON SERVES AS THE MODEL TO ALL JUNETEENTH PLANNING AND EVENTS IN THE CITY.
ENSURING COMMUNITIES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HISTORY OF JUNETEENTH REMAIN PART OF ITS LEGACY.
THIS YEAR WE CELEBRATE 160 YEARS OF JUBILATION, OF STORYTELLING, OF COMMUNAL GATHERING AND PAYING REVERENCE TO THOSE WHO HAVE PAVED THE WAY FOR THIS JOYOUS OCCASION, AND ALSO TO THOSE THAT ARE STILL DOING THE WORK.
THIS YEAR'S THEME IS CROWNS OF LIBERATION.
IT'S A LIVELY DISPLAY OF CELEBRATION, HIGHLIGHTING ALL THE WAYS WE EXPRESS AND WE EXPLORE LIBERATION OF OUR LEGACY.
I'M REPRESENTING THE FREEMANS TOWN MUSEUMS ESTABLISHED IN 1996.
SO JUNE 19TH, 1865, KNOWN AS JUNETEENTH FREEDOM DAY.
JUBILEE DAY, 246 YEARS OF SLAVERY HAS FINALLY ENDED FOR AFRICANS IN THEIR DESCENDANTS.
BORN IN TEXAS GENERAL GORDON GRANGER AND FEDERAL TROOPS, WHICH INCLUDED BLACK SOLDIERS, CAME TO GALVESTON, TEXAS TO ENFORCE GENERAL ARTISTS NUMBER THREE OF THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION, MUCH TO THE CHAGRIN OF BLACK TEXAS PLANTERS.
BUT CAN YOU IMAGINE THE LOOK ON THE FACES OF THOSE SOON TO BE EMANCIPATED GALVESTONIANS WHEN THEY SAW THOSE BLACK TRUTHS AND THEY'LL FIND UNIFORMS? I CAN.
SO FOR THE RECORD, TEXAS DID NOT RECEIVE NEWS OF EMANCIPATION.
LATE QUIT SAYING THAT THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION WAS PUBLISHED IN 125 TEXAS NEWSPAPERS.
AND BECAUSE TEXAS HAD LEFT THE STATE, LEFT THE UNION, UH, TO BECOME PART OF THE CONFEDERACY, THEY WILL NO LONGER THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.
A MILITARY STRATEGY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM.
AND PLUS ARTICLE SEVEN OF THEIR CONSTITUTION SAID, NO SLAVES SHALL BE EMANCIPATED.
BUT AS NEWS OF THE WARS END AND THE COLLAPSE OF SLAVERY AND THE EMAN AND EMANCIPATION SPREAD, HUNDREDS OF FORMERLY BOLD, BRAVE BLACKS LEFT PLANTATIONS AND OTHER PLACES OF BONDAGE WITH DREAMS AND HOPES FOR CITIZENSHIP AND ABSOLUTE EQUALITY.
NOT THERE WERE NO IMMEDIATE CELEBRATIONS IN TEXAS DUE TO ENFORCED MILITARY OCCUPATION.
AND BECAUSE THOSE SLAVES LEFT WITH ONLY THE CLOTHES ON THEIR BACKS.
BUT EVENTUALLY THEY LEARNED TO TRADE EDUCATED THEMSELVES AND BECAME PROPERTY OWNERS AS WELL.
HOUSTON'S FIRST JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION OCCURRED ON JUNE 20TH, 1866.
THE FOLLOWING YEARS WE'LL SEE GRAND JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS HELD IN EMANCIPATION PARK PROPERTY PURCHASED IN 1872 BY BLACKS SPECIFICALLY FOR COMMEMORATING AND CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH.
THIS YEAR'S JUNETEENTH HOUSTON 2025 EVENT WILL UPHOLD TIME HONORED TRADITION OF ITS FOREFATHERS WITH CELEBRATING FREEDOM.
THE COMMUNITY WILL BE ENGAGED WITH ENTERTAINMENT FOR PHARMACISTS, MUSIC, A PARADE CONTEST, FOODS, MEMORIAL CON, MEMORIAL TRIBUTES, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF GENERAL ARTIST NUMBER THREE AND MORE.
AND WE SURE HOPE TO SEE THE COMMUNITY OUT THERE.
I THINK IT IS MY TURN, BUT JOHN IS IN CONVERSATION.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE HOUSTON FRIEDMANS TOWN CONSERVANCY.
I REPRESENT FOURTH WARD FRIEDMANS TOWN.
I'M HERE JUST TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE IMPACT
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OF JUNETEENTH.AS WE ALL KNOW, JUNETEENTH 2025 MARKS 160 YEARS OF EMANCIPATION.
IT REPRESENTS RESILIENCE, STRENGTH, BUILDING COMMUNITY, AND IT REPRESENTS THE COMMON ANTHEM THAT EXISTS AMONGST OUR CULTURE.
WE WILL MAKE A WAY OUT OF NO WAY.
JUNETEENTH REPRESENTS THE FIRST BREADTH OF FREEDOM.
AND HOUSTON FRIEDMAN'S TOWN REPRESENTS THE FIRST FOOTPRINT OF BLACK INGENUITY, INNOVATION, AND THE BEGINNING OF BLACK HOUSTON, ALSO KNOWN AS THE CHILD OF JUNETEENTH, AND OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE MOTHER WARD OF BLACK HOUSTON.
FRIEDMANS TOWN HAS PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN BLACK, IN THE BLACK EXPERIENCE OF HOUSTON WITH OTHER BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITIES EMERGING AND BLOOMING LIKE THIRD WARD THAT IS REPRESENTED HERE TODAY.
AND FIFTH WARD, THE NICKEL WHERE I ACTUALLY GREW UP.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF JUNETEENTH, WE KNOW AS UNITED COMMUNITIES, WE HAVE TURNED DREAMS INTO REALITY.
TOGETHER, WE'VE PURCHASED LAND, WE'VE BUILT CHURCHES, WE'VE LAUNCHED BUSINESSES AND ESTABLISHED IN INSTITUTIONS THAT CAN CONTINUE TO THRIVE TODAY, LIKE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND ANTIOCH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, OUR FOUNDATION IS STRONG ROOTED IN FAITH, FAMILY, EDUCATION, AND ENTERPRISE, DRIVING US FORWARD WITH PURPOSE AND PASSION.
WHAT WE'VE CREATED IS MORE THAN JUST SUCCESS.
IT'S LEGACY OF UNITY AND VISION THAT WE HOPE WILL INSPIRE GENERATIONS TO COME.
JUNETEENTH STANDS AS A POWERFUL TURNING POINT IN HISTORY, OPENING DOORS FOR PROGRESS AND TRANSFORMATION THAT CONTINUE TO SHAPE THE WORLD.
TODAY WE ARE DOING THE WORK YOU ALL LIKE BLACK OWNED STARTUP, UM, TECH STARTUP COMPANIES THAT ARE EXPANDING ACROSS INDUSTRIES THAT ENTER SPACES LIKE AI, FINTECH, HEALTHCARE AND DIGITAL MEDIA.
UM, BLACK CREATIVES BEING ABLE TO SHAPE THE INDUSTRIES LIKE FILM, UM, MUSIC AND FASHION, JUST LIKE WE SAW DURING MET GALA, MET GALA, IF ANY OF YOU GUYS CALL IT THE BLACK DANDYISM THAT WAS ON DISPLAY.
AND THEN OF COURSE, LAST CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, BUT HBCUS THAT CONTINUE TO BE A POWERFUL, CONTINUE TO BE A POWERFUL STAPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE LAUNCHING, UM, BLACK LEADERSHIP, PRODUCING INFLUENTIAL SCHOLARS, ACTIVISTS AND PROFESSIONALS.
YOU SEE, JUNETEENTH IS NOT JUST A CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM, BUT IT IS ALSO PROGRESS.
IT IS A REFLECTION OF OUR CULTURE, OUR HAIR, OUR HERITAGE, AND A REMINDER TO ENSURE OUR LEGACY AND OUR STORIES ARE AROUND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
OUR HISTORY IS NOT JUST IMPORTANT TO HOUSTON OR TO BLACK HISTORY, BUT TO AMERICAN HISTORY.
THIS IS A TIME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT IN TODAY'S CLIMATE TO RECOGNIZE WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE'VE DONE.
JUNETEENTH SHOULD ENCOURAGE US TO CONTINUOUSLY WORK TO UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF FREEDOM AND THE TRUE MEANING OF PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE, WHILE ALSO RECOGNIZING THAT THERE'S STILL MUCH WORK TO BE DONE.
AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO COMMEMORATING 160 YEARS OF JUNETEENTH BEING OUT AT THE COOKOUT AT THE JUBILEE, LET US UPLIFT ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE REPRESENTING, UM, THE, OUR BLACK HERITAGE, OUR CULTURE, AND HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE BECOME, WHO HAVE COME BEFORE US.
SO LET'S CONTINUE TO BUILD WHAT WE STARTED.
SEE YOU ALL ON JUNETEENTH, PEACE AND GREETINGS.
I AM THE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AT THE ENSEMBLE THEATER.
I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF HARRISON GUY, WHO IS THE PROGRAMMING CHAIR FOR JUNETEENTH HOUSTON, AS HE COULD NOT BE WITH US TODAY AT THE ENSEMBLE THEATER.
OUR MISSION IS TO PRESERVE AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, AND WE ARE SO PROUD AND SO PRIVILEGED TO BE A PART OF THIS CITYWIDE INITIATIVE.
THE PROGRAMMING FOR THIS YEAR'S JUNETEENTH HOUSTON CELEBRATIONS.
THE THEME IS CROWNS OF LIBERATION, AND WHETHER YOU WEAR A DURAG, A HEAD WRAP, A CROWN, A CAP, THAT IS YOUR CROWN.
WE HAVE ART AS WELL AS ART INSTALLATIONS, AS WELL AS PERFORMANCES AND PRODUCTIONS THAT RE THAT ARE REFLECTIVE OF THE THEME OF CROWNS OF LIBERATION.
HISTORICALLY, BLACK HOUSTON NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE COME TOGETHER TO INITIATE WHAT I HAVE STARTED TO CALL THE FREEDOM SEASON
ON JUNE 1ST, 2025, WE ARE BRINGING TOGETHER THE VILLAGES.
THE VILLAGES ARE SEVEN COMMUNITIES, EACH WITH THEIR OWN TENT WHO ARE ACTIVATING THEIR TENT, HOWEVER THEY CHOOSE.
THE VILLAGES ARE OPEN TO ALL, AND WE ENCOURAGE ALL TO VISIT THE, TO VISIT THE TENTS, AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE OF THE WIDER HOUSTON COMMUNITY.
AS WE CELEBRATE AND MANIFEST WHAT JUNETEENTH HOUSTON MEANS TO US, AND WHAT THE OVERALL JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY MEANS TO US.
US NOT ONLY AS BLACK PEOPLE, BUT PART OF THE AMERICAN FABRIC ON STAGE, EACH VILLAGE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE AND OR PRESENT
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A PERFORMANCE THAT REPRESENTS THEIR COMMUNITY.WE WILL HAVE A CEREMONY WITH ONE YOUTH AND ONE ELDER FROM EACH COMMUNITY AS THEY COME TO GATHER TO NOT ONLY REPRESENT THEIR COMMUNITY, BUT THINKING ABOUT THE PAST AND SHARING THEIR HOPES FOR THE FUTURE.
ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE THE RINGING OF THE BELL 160 TIMES IN RECOGNITION THAT THIS IS THE HUNDRED AND 60TH YEAR OF OUR CELEBRATION SINCE THE ORIGINAL JUNETEENTH.
WE ARE HOSTING ART INSTALLATIONS, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THAT REF THAT ARE REFLECTIVE OF THE THEME OF CROWNS, OF LIBERATION.
ALL OF THE PROGRAMMING WILL REFLECT THE OVERALL THEME, AND THE CROWNS OF LIBERATION CELEBRATES DIFFERENT WAYS AGAIN, THAT BLACK PEOPLE HAVE CROWNED THEMSELVES THROUGHOUT HISTORY AS WELL AS IN OUR MODERN CULTURE.
SO WE INVITE ALL TO JOIN OUR JUBILEE, JOIN US AT THE COOKOUT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING A PART OF THIS INITIATIVE.
I'M ACTUALLY PULLING DOUBLE DUTY THIS AFTERNOON REPRESENTING THE THIRD WARD CULTURAL DISTRICT AS WELL AS, UH, EMANCIPATION PARK.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT IS TRULY A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL THIS AFTERNOON.
AND BEFORE I GO INTO MY REMARKS, I REALLY WANT TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF WHY WE'RE HERE AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS CELEBRATION.
AND I WANNA GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO THE MAYOR, COUNCILWOMAN SHABAZZ AND ALL THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING AND HOW THIS BENEFITS THE CITY AND HOW EVERYONE CAN PARTAKE UPON THIS.
UM, JOHN, I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER TOLD YOU THIS, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
YOU KNOW, LET'S GIVE JOHN A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
YOU KNOW, OUR JUNETEENTH HOUSTON GROUP REPRESENTS OVER 20 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND I'M PROUD TO BE A CONTRIBUTOR.
THIS IS A TIME OF REFLECTION AND CELEBRATION.
HOUSTON'S HISTORIC THIRD WAR COMMUNITY IN THE HEART OF DISTRICT D IS THE GLUE THAT KEEPS US TOGETHER.
AND EMANCIPATION PARK IS THE EPICENTER.
WE HAVE A LINEUP OF PHENOMENAL ACTIVITIES THAT YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ABOUT, BUT I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH THAT THIS IS A TIME OF REFLECTION.
THIS IS A TIME OF COMING TOGETHER AND UPLIFTING EVERYONE BECAUSE JUNETEENTH IS AMERICAN HISTORY AND WE ALL NEED TO PULL TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY IN THIS CURRENT ENVIRONMENT.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE COOKOUT.
UM, TO KICK EVERYTHING OFF ON SATURDAY, JUNE THE SEVENTH, WE'RE HAVING A BIG FREEDOM RUN AND WALK AT EMANCIPATION PARK.
AND ON THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY, JUNE THE 14TH, HAVING THE CONCERT AND THE FESTIVAL, VERY HOUSTON CENTRIC.
WE GOT THE JUNETEENTH CHOIR, GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING ARTIST, YOLANDA ADAMS, MARY GRIFFIN, BRAD SCARFACE JORDAN.
GEORGE CLINTON, WHO I KNOW THE MAYOR IS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT.
AND BEFORE I SIT DOWN, BECAUSE I SEE A FEW FACES IN THIS CROWD, UM, THAT I REALLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, ONE IN PARTICULAR IS, UM, RHONDA WITH THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM.
THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM HAS BEEN A SUPPORTER OF I JUNETEENTH ACTIVITIES SINCE INCEPTION.
AND I THINK THIS IS REALLY A TRIBUTE TO THE CITY.
ALL OF THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WHETHER IT'S HEB, KINDER FOUNDATION, ALL OF THE UNIVERSITIES ARE PARTICIPATING, TEXAS, SOUTHERN U OF H, RICE, ALL OF THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS, METHODISTS, MEMORIAL HERMANN, TEXAS CHILDREN'S, ALL OF THEM ARE PARTICIPATING.
BUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO, AND THIS IS MY ASK AND MY PLEA TO EVERYONE BRING A FRIEND, LET'S REALLY TRY TO TAKE THIS TO THE NEXT LEVEL BECAUSE AS WE REFLECT AND CELEBRATE, THIS IS ALSO ABOUT COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND I KNOW THE MAYOR CAN AGREE WITH ME.
WE WANT PEOPLE COMING INTO HOUSTON, STAYING IN HOTELS, RENTING CARS.
THIS IS THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
SO BRING YOUR FRIENDS, UM, YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND LET'S REALLY PUT HOUSTON ON THE MAP BECAUSE AS IT RELATES TO JUNETEENTH, THIS IS IT, BABY.
SO I WOULD JUST WANT TO CLOSE BY SAYING ING, YOU KNOW, COUNCILWOMAN,
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CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO EMBARRASS HER.YOU KNOW, SHE ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT DISTRICT D TO THE DISTRICT DESTINATION.
YOU, YOU KNOW, BUT YOU CAN'T GET ANY MORE THIRD WARD THAN COUNCILWOMAN CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ.
GIVE HER A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY, AS WE ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT'S HAPPENING, AND WE REFLECT AND WE CELEBRATE, LET'S ALL CONTRIBUTE.
AND LET'S REALLY TAKE THIS TO THE NEXT LEVEL BECAUSE THIS IS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR THIS CITY, FOR EVERYONE.
AND I'M GONNA START THIS OFF RIGHT? 'CAUSE I SEE ALL OF THESE WONDERFUL PASTORS IN HERE.
SO I'M GONNA GIVE HONOR TO GOD FIRST, AND CERTAINLY THESE WONDERFUL PASTORS.
WE KNOW THAT THIS EVENT IS BLESSED.
YOU ARE HERE, AND YOU ARE CERTAINLY PRAYING FOR US, AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT.
I AM COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABA, THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT D, WHAT I CALL THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
AND I AM HONORED TO SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY.
AND CERTAINLY IT'S SO FITTING TO HAVE THIS AT EMANCIPATION PARK, A PARK ESTABLISHED BY THE REVEREND JACK YATES.
AND YOU ALL KNOW I AM JY FOR LIFE.
AND SO THEREFORE, I THINK THAT IS SO FITTING.
AND, AND BECAUSE, UH, OF THAT, I WANNA ALSO RECOGNIZE MY CLASSMATE, CARL DAVIS, WHO IS NOW A MEMBER OF THE HARRIS COUNTY AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMITTEE.
SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, CARL.
I SEE A COUPLE OF MY OTHER CLASSMATES HERE, BUT I'M NOT GONNA MAKE THIS ABOUT JY
I CERTAINLY WANT TO RECOGNIZE MY COLLEAGUES.
WE HAVE JOAQUIN MARTINEZ, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER, THE REVEREND WILLIE DAVIS, AND THEN WE HAVE THE PERSON THAT SITS, SITS NEXT TO ME AND BUGS ME ALL COUNCIL MEETING, COUNCIL MEMBER TWILA CARTER.
AND SO I'M JUST GONNA SAY IN CLOSING THAT I PLAN TO BE THERE TO SHAKE A TAIL FEATHER.
OKAY? BUT LEMME JUST ASK Y'ALL WHERE THEM FANS AT, WHERE THEM FANS AT.
ALRIGHT, WELL, YOU CAN DEFINITELY LEAVE IT TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SURVIVES.
WE MIGHT NEED TO ADD THAT TO THE LINEUP.
IS IT TOO LATE TO BOOK YOU
UH, THEY HAVE THE, UM, LIBERTY TOO.
SHE, SO, UH, I, I'M, I'M HONORED TO BE HERE AND LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING WITH YOU ALL.
AND I CAN TELL YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SHABA SAID, I SIT NEXT TO HER AND BOTHER HER.
I SIT NEXT TO HER AND KEEP HER IN TRASH.
UM, AND I JUST WANT TO, UH, JUST SAY THAT I'M HONORED TO BE HERE AS WELL.
UM, AND, AND WHAT'S WHAT'S BEEN SAID BEFORE, YOU KNOW, BLACK HISTORY IS REALLY OUR HISTORY AS WELL.
AND SO I WANNA RECOGNIZE CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS WITHIN DISTRICT.
I, AND MY HOPE IS THE CHALLENGE IF WE CAN, I KNOW THERE'S SEVERAL PLACES WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT THE HISTORIC HARRISBURG NEIGHBORHOODS, SMITH EDITION, CLINT PARK, CLINT VIEW, FIDELITY, UH, THESE COMMUNITIES ALSO HAVE RICH HISTORY WHEN IT COMES TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, MY HOPE WOULD BE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD WORK ALONGSIDE WITH MY TEAM AND MY OFFICE TO HAVE CELEBRATIONS IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL.
AND SO, AGAIN, JUST WANTED SAY THAT I'M HONORED TO BE HERE.
UH, THANK YOU CAROLYN AND BOSS FOR ALWAYS GI GIVING US A KEEPING IT LIVE FOR SURE.
AND SO, AGAIN, UM, I'M, I'M EXCITED ABOUT JUNETEENTH AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, SPENDING TIME WITH YOU ALL AS WELL.
YES, MY NAME IS, UH, COUNCILOR JOAQUIN MARTINEZ, DISTRICT.
IT IS A JOY TO BE HERE, AND CERTAINLY I COULDN'T THINK OF NOTHING BETTER THAN TO BE HERE TO SUPPORT AND HONOR SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND A TIME IN THE LIFE OF BLACK AMERICAN HISTORY AND WHO WE ARE AS A PEOPLE, UH, AND CERTAINLY TO COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, UH, WHO IS THIRD WARD READY.
BUT, UM, OF COURSE SHE OFTEN KNOW AS WELL.
I'M, I'M SO THIRD WARD, I WAS BORN IN A HOUSE ON SCOTT STREET, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MORE THIRD WARD YOU CAN GET, BUT, BUT, UH, THAT'S HERE.
AND WE, WE REALLY, UH, ADORE THE FACT BECAUSE WE CERTAINLY ALWAYS
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WANT TO THANK OUR MAYOR AND WELL AS THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR REPRESENTING SUCH A GREAT DAY.UH, AND, UH, AND ALSO WANT TO ADD TO IT THAT I THINK ALL OF HOUSTON WOULD BE MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY.
DOESN'T MATTER HOW YOU FLIP IT, HOW YOU TRY TO TWIST IT, IT IS WHAT IT IS.
AND TO INCLUDE ALWAYS THE BLACK CHURCH, BECAUSE WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE BEDROCK, THE CATALYST OF ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND SO I'M ALWAYS PROUD TO REPRESENT THAT AND TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN WITH IT.
AND SO WE'RE GRATEFUL TO BE HERE.
IT RARELY AM I, AM I SERIOUS? UH, BUT CERTAINLY I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AS WELL.
BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS VITALLY IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY THIS YEAR.
ALL THE VESTIGES OF US AND OUR HISTORY ARE BEING REMOVED, AND SO WE MUST CELEBRATE OURSELVES AND JUNETEENTH.
AND SO AGAIN, I PLAN TO BE THERE.
WE ARE VERY WELCOMING IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE SOON.
UM, SO, UH, IF YOU BEAR WITH ME FOR ABOUT TWO MINUTES REAL QUICK.
I I WANT TO KIND OF SUM UP AND, AND WRAP UP THE SENTIMENTS THAT WERE SHARED ON THIS STAGE TODAY.
UM, THIRD WARD, FOURTH WARD, FIFTH WARD, SUNNYSIDE ACRES, HOME, INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, SOUTH PARK, THIRD WARD, FOURTH WARD, FIFTH WARD, SUNNYSIDE, SOUTH PARK, INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS AND ACRES, HOMES, INSTITUTIONS, RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ASSETS, CHURCHES ALL CAME TOGETHER AND SAID, HEY, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING FOR US.
AND WHAT IS THAT GOING TO LOOK LIKE? HOW DO WE CENTER OURSELVES IN OUR HOLIDAYS? HOW DO WE CENTER OURSELVES AND REMAIN, UM, AND KEEP THAT SECESSION CONTINUING? HOW DO WE MATRICULATE? HOW DO OUR CHILDREN MATRICULATE INTO THESE THINGS? UM, IF YOU ARE, UH, BLACK, ASIAN, HISPANIC, WHATEVER IN THIS CITY, UM, DEFINITELY IF YOU'RE BLACK, YOU SEE, WE MOVE, WE WE'RE MIGRATORY MOST TIMES BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BE.
AND WITH THAT MEANS OUR HISTORY BECOMES MIGRATORY.
OUR COMMUNITIES BECOME MIGRATORY, AND SO WE HOLD THEM WITHIN OUR BODIES.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LET THAT OUT.
I OFTEN TALK WITH DEBORAH ECHOING THE SAME SENTIMENTS OF COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, THAT IF WE DON'T SHARE OUR HISTORY, THEN IT DIES WITH US.
IF WE DON'T SHARE OUR JUBILATION, OUR JOY, OUR SMILES, I WILL LOVE ALL OF THOSE THINGS DIE WITH US.
THIS IS NOT R AND B FESTIVAL AND ALL OF THE BLACK PEOPLE JUST HAPPEN TO COME TO R AND B FESTIVAL.
THIS IS ALL OF BLACK PEOPLE ACROSS THIS CITY HAVE COME TOGETHER AND SAID, HEY, WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS A JUBILATION FOR US.
THAT THAT IS A PINNACLE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT IS OPEN TO ALL PEOPLE TO ENJOY AND UNDERSTAND HOW WE CELEBRATE AND WHAT THE COOKOUT IS ALL ABOUT.
AND SO I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO GO TO JUNETEENTH HOUSTON.ORG.
I'M GONNA SAY IT ONE MORE TIME.
YOU READY? JUNETEENTH HOUSTON.ORG.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF MONEY ON THE WEBSITE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING.
AND SO IN THE NEXT 30 SECONDS, I'M GONNA RUN DOWN A COUPLE OF THINGS SO THAT YOU ALL KNOW HOW YOU CAN BE A PART OF THIS, UH, CELEBRATION.
AND SO THE FIRST THING IS WE'RE HAVING A JUNETEENTH RED FOODS COOKOFF.
UM, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THAT I'VE EVER SEEN IN HOUSTON.
YOU GET TO TRY SIX DIFFERENT BITES FROM SIX LOCAL CHEFS WHO ARE PREPARING, UM, FOODS THAT HIGHLIGHT A RED FOOD AS WE WOULD NORMALLY EAT DURING JUNETEENTH.
YOU CAN GET TICKETS ONLINE, UM, JUNETEENTH HOUSTON.ORG.
THERE'S ONLY $5 AND YOU GET SIX BITES.
THE NEXT THING IS, WHAT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS THIS BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD QUILT PROJECT.
AND SO IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE AIDS MEMORIAL QUILT AND THIS QUILT THAT HAS BEEN, UM, CONTINUING TO GROW OVER THE COURSE OF DECADES, THAT HIGHLIGHTED PEOPLE WHO PASSED DUE TO COMPLICATIONS DUE TO AIDS, WE, UM, EMBODIED SOME OF THAT.
AND SO WE'VE CREATED THIS BLACK HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD QUILT PROJECT WHERE YOU CAN, UM, SUBMIT PANELS THAT PAY HOMAGE TO YOUR BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO SEW, IT'S ABSOLUTELY OKAY.
WE WILL BE IN THE CULTURAL CENTER ON JUNE 1ST AT THE FESTIVAL, JUNE 1ST FROM ONE TO SEVEN, YOU CAN COME TO EMANCIPATION PARK WHERE WE WILL BE HAVING THE FESTIVAL AND ON THE INSIDE IN THE AC, IF YOU WANNA DESIGN A PANEL FOR A QUILT TO PAY HOMAGE TO YOUR BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN.
THE WOMEN FROM THE JUBILEE QUILT CIRCLE WILL BE THERE TO HELP YOU CREATE YOUR PANEL AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO WATCH THEM LIVE, STITCH
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THE, UH, PANELS TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS QUILT.UM, THE LAST BIG THING THAT I REALLY WANNA SHARE IS, UM, IN ADDITION TO PERFORMANCES BY THE HOUSTON GRAND OPERA, THE ENSEMBLE THEATER, THE BAYOU CITY BRASS BAND, UM, BEING ABLE TO SHOP FROM OVER 30 BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES, UM, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD MEETUP WHERE THIRD WARD GET TO HANG OUT WITH FIFTH WARD AND SUNNYSIDE GET TO HANG OUT WITH INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS AND ACRES HOMES, AND YOU CAN JUST MOVE BETWEEN COMMUNITIES WITHOUT HAVING TO DRIVE THROUGH THE TRAFFIC.
DON'T SAY WE'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING FOR YOU, RIGHT? UM, BUT LASTLY, WE HAVE THIS CROWNS OF LIBERATION, ART ACTIVATION AND PARADE.
UM, IT'S SO FUNNY, EVERYBODY LOOK RIGHT HERE WITH THIS RED HAT ON.
I KNOW Y'ALL CAN'T SEE US, BUT YOU'LL SEE HER ON JUNE 1ST.
SHE'S THE WINNER OF OUR, UM, ART ACTIVATION INSTALLATION.
SO SHE IS THE ARTIST, UM, DIAMOND ASHMAN, WHO WILL BE PROVIDING THE, THE IMMERSIVE ART EXPERIENCE.
AND COUPLED WITH THAT, AT FIVE 30, WE WILL BE ALL LINING UP IN THE PROMENADE OF EMANCIPATION PARK TO, UH, HAVE A PARADE.
AND THAT PARADE PROCESSION IS GONNA BE OUR CROWNS OF LIBERATION PARADE.
SO WHATEVER YOU WEAR TO ADORN YOUR CROWN, WHETHER IT'S A DURAG OR A BONNET, WHETHER IT'S A HEADDRESS, A HEAD WRAP, A COWBOY HAT, A MILITARY HAT, A KANGO, A DOLEY, IT DOES NOT MATTER.
WHATEVER YOU WEAR TO ADORN YOUR HEAD, WE WILL HAVE A LIVELY PARADE.
Y'ALL ALL SEEN THE WIZ? I WOULDN'T BE SEEN GREEN.
YOU KNOW, WE GONNA BE, IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD TIME.
IT'LL BE LED BY THE BAYOU CITY BRASS BAND.
AGAIN, OUR WEBSITE IS JUNETEENTH HOUSTON.ORG.
I'M JOHN NICHOL, I'M THE CHAIR FOR JUNETEENTH HOUSTON.
UM, WHILE I'LL HAND IT OVER TO OUR MAYOR WHO WILL CLOSE US OUT, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR COMING.
Y'ALL SOME SMART, LET'S GO TO WORK.