The City of Detroit is hosting a “Juneteenth Freedom Fest” Sunday at Eastern Market. Juneteenth commemorates June 19th, 1865, when the last African American slaves were freed in the United States.
Erica Hill is the Deputy Director for the City of Detroit’s Office of Civil Rights, Inclusion and Opportunity. She says the festivities will include poetry readings, food, and a shopping area. “Which is, we’re calling Black Bottom Row where people will have an opportunity to purchase goods from our local small Black businesses,” she says.
There will also be musical performances by the hip hop group Slum Village, singer-songwriter Charity and Gospel artist John Houston. The Freedom Fest is one of several Juneteenth events scheduled in the Detroit metro area throughout the weekend.