Juneteenth commemorates slavery’s end

Juneteenth was marked with music, storytelling and a torch-lit walk on Richmond's slave trail yesterday.

The observance celebrates the end of slavery, and the theme of this year's commemoration is "Walking in our Ancestors' Footsteps."

"Lest we forget, it's important that we know our history," said Jovita Simons, who was selling gifts at the Ancarrow's Landing area on the south side of the James River. "It does affect us. We have to know our history so we don't repeat it."

Juneteenth evolved from celebrations to commemorate June 19, 1865, the day Union Gen. Gordon Granger and his 2,000 troops freed the slaves of Galveston, Texas, some of the last American slaves to be liberated.

"You had a cultural people who were brought here against their will and basically built a nation," said J. Ron Fleming, the festival emcee.

He said the weekend celebration, which drew several hundred people at its events yesterday, allows people to come together to remember a painful and sometimes distorted part of the nation's history.

About 70 people gathered near Manchester Dock, a port of entry for Africans brought here to be sold into slavery. At nightfall, the walk along the slave trail began with more than 150 people, with more expected to join along the way.

Stephanie Fentress, who was selling herbs, vitamins and African-American literature, said earlier that she enjoyed the friendly, soothing atmosphere at the event.

Fentress, of Norfolk, said she chooses not to focus on the past.

"I'm not a slave. I don't live in the past; I live for today," she said. "We all are people. We should all be one."

Ron Chism, 65, of Henrico County said the community needs to remember the inhumane treatment endured by slaves.

"It's important that African-Americans recognize that these events did take place,"

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