For Black Americans, Juneteenth means freedom.

The name is a combination of the words June and 19th. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day when the last slaves in the former Confederacy were freed after the Civil War.

“It is to be celebrated and not forgotten about,” said Sherry Washington, the president of the Pleasant Valley Awareness Committee and the Fort Dodge chapter of the NAACP.

“At the end of the day it’s freedom,” she said. “That brings a reason to celebrate.”

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Sherry Washington, the president of the Pleasant Valley Awareness Committee, places a medal around the neck of 5-year-old Malachi Nuzum following a basketball game during Juneteenth celebration at H.C. Meriwether Park

A Juneteenth celebration is planned for June 17 in Fort Dodge. It will begin at 11 a.m. at H.C. Meriwether Park on 10th Avenue Southwest.

It will feature food, music, basketball, awards and a keynote speaker. There will also be free haircuts for boys and free fingernail painting for girls.

“Let’s put those computers down and congregate together,” Washington said.

The Juneteenth celebration, she said, will provide a chance for the community to come together.

Food is a key part of most American celebrations and the Juneteenth celebration will be no exception. Food will be provided by Big Rob’s BBQ, of Des Moines; Calvary Family Center and the AGAPE church.

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Charlene Washington leads the group in singing at the conclusion of Juneteenth celebration at H.C. Meriwether Park

Music is also a big part of celebrations. At Juneteenth, people will hear what Washington called “old school music’– Motown and hits from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s — played by a DJ.

The basketball courts are often the epicenter of activity at H.C. Meriwether Park. During the Juneteenth celebration, there will be games organized by Chester Love, a Fort Dodge native and Fort Dodge Senior High School graduate who is a teacher and coach in Chicago, Illinois.

State Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad, D-Des Moines, will be the keynote speaker. Washington said he will talk about stopping violence in communities.

Several people will be recognized during the celebration, including two couples from the Pleasant Valley neighborhood who have been married almost 70 years.

If You Go

What: Juneteenth celebration

When: 11 a.m. June 17

Where: H.C. Meriwether Park, 10th Avenue Southwest

History of Juneteenth

On Jan. 1, 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that all slaves in Confederate territory were now free.In reality, the slaves had to wait until the Union Army arrived in their area in order to be free.

On June 19, 1865, Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger led troops into Galveston, Texas, and declared that all slaves in Texas were free. That is why June 19 has been considered the day when the last slaves were finally free.

Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021.