MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, Wash. — Saturday marked the first time the City of Mountlake Terrace hosted a Juneteenth celebration. It's happening just days before the federal holiday on Wednesday, June 19.
"There are people that came out rain or shine to see this and learn more," said Alicia Crank, the executive director of Seattle CityClub, a nonprofit focused on improving civic health in western Washington.
A history lesson at the Mountlake Terrace Library underway, "understanding it's not Black history. It's American history," said Crank.
Saturday marked history in Mountlake Terrace. For the first time, the city partnered with Sno-Isle Libraries to put on a Juneteenth event.
"I'm really glad that we're celebrating today so that the younger generation can learn and start celebrating and our future is going to be different for them," said Kyoko Matsumoto Wright, the mayor of Mountlake Terrace.
Juneteenth has been recognized as a federal holiday since 2021. It's known as the country's second Independence Day, commemorating the end of slavery.
"When President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, not every slave knew that that happened,” said Crank. “So, it was almost another two years before the last slaves in the country, in Texas, found out they were free."
Crank was one of the speakers at Saturday’s event.
"It affects all of us. Slavery wasn't just affecting Black people, it affected everybody,” said Crank. “I think that's with any ethnic holiday that's rooted here in the United States, we all play a part in that, and we should all understand the history."
A history this community looks forward to better understanding and celebrating for years to come. "It's growing,” said Crank. “I think being able to see all the community members, all shapes, all sizes, all colors. Bonded to this one event speaks volumes and it's so important."