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  2020-06-19

  Juneteenth Prompts Voter Registration in Black Communities

  The recent protests and Black Lives Matter Movement have sparked America's interest in promoting Black culture and historical events. One such event, Juneteenth Day, has captured the attention of many people. Juneteenth celebrates the day when the slaves in Texas were freed by incoming Union soldiers who were enforcing the Emancipation Procaliamtion Executive Order while also stating that the Civil War has ended (June 19th, 1865). Juneteenth was primarily celebrated in Texas until it spread to other cities and states during the 20th century. This was especially true during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Men and women who had participated in the Poor People's March on Washington D.C. began to host Juneteenth celebrations when they eventually went back to their respective states and cities. Today, Juneteenth "celebrates African American freedom and achievement, while [also] encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures." One way African American organizations have promoted this 'self-development' is through voter-registration. In Navassa, a large black community near Wilmington, NC, two organizations have come together to do just this. As the news article states, "Women with [social sororities] Alpha Psi Omega Chapter and Alpha Kappa Alpha are sponsoring [a] three-day...voter-registration drive." People who come to this event are required to wear face masks and maintain a 6ft distance between themselves and others at all times. Although the Coronavirus has negatively impacted the Black communities in America, this Juneteenth Day will hopefully incite a rise in black-voter-registration and raise awareness for this important day in history.