About Us
Contact Us
Careers
Get Involved
News
Calendar
Translate Page
Google Translate
Translate
Neighborhoods
Zoning
Planning
Urban Design
Development
Housing
Research
3D Data & Maps
Work with Us
Home
Neighborhoods
Allston
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Back Bay
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Bay Village
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Beacon Hill
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Brighton
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Charlestown
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Navy Yard Master Plan Implementation
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Chinatown
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Dorchester
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Downtown
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
East Boston
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Fenway
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Hyde Park
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Jamaica Plain
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Leather District
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Longwood Medical Area
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Mattapan
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Mission Hill
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
North End
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Roslindale
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Roxbury
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
South Boston
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
South Boston Waterfront
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
South End
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
West End
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
West Roxbury
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Zoning
What is Zoning?
Zoning Board of Appeal
Zoning Code
Zoning Commission
Zoning Initiatives
Cannabis Establishments
Citywide Child Care Zoning
Definitions
Squares + Streets Zoning Districts
Zoning Maps (PDF)
Zoning Viewer
Planning
What is Planning?
Imagine Boston 2030
Why Imagine Boston 2030?
Vision and Goals
Current Planning Initiatives
Climate Change & Environmental Planning
Overview
Waterfront Planning
Boston Smart Utilities
Background and History
Comprehensive Planning
Zoning Reform Team
Transportation & Infrastructure Planning
Urban Renewal
Urban Renewal
Urban Renewal Areas
Urban Renewal Dashboard
Featured Projects
Urban Design
Overview
Design
Downloads and Submissions
FAQs
Boston Design Vision
Boston Civic Design Commission
Commissioner Biographies
BCDC Meetings and Minutes
Storefront & Signage
ZBA-BPDA Design Review
Sustainability and Resilience Review
Article 25A Coastal Flood Resilience Overlay District
Article 37 Green Building
Climate Resilience Building Case Study
E+ Green Building Program
Mass Timber Accelerator
Privately Owned Public Spaces (POPS)
Development
Article 80 Records Library
Development Projects & Plans
Institutional Master Plans
Overview
Higher Education
Hospitals
What is Development Review?
What is Article 80?
Large Projects
Small Projects
Planned Development Areas
Institutional Master Plans
Mitigation & Impact Advisory Groups
Development Standards
Accessibility Guidelines and Checklist
Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Article 80
Article 25A Coastal Flood Resilience Overlay District
Article 37 Green Building and Climate Resiliency Guidelines
Article 80 Design Review Broadband Ready Buildings Questionnaire
Building Wraps
Day Care Facility Requirement
DEI in Development Policy
Inclusionary Development Policy
Language Access Plan for Article 80
Life Sciences Action Agenda
Life Science Building Design Guidelines
Linkage
Smart Utilities Checklist
Improving Our Development Review Process
Office to Residential Conversion Program
Compliance
Compliance Overview
Construction Activity and Reports
Developer Portal
Housing
Overview
Inclusionary Development Policy: Annual Reports
Inclusionary Development Policy Update
Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Article 80
Frequently Asked Questions
Income, Asset, and Price Limits
Finding Housing
Overview
Income, Asset, and Price Limits
Lottery Preferences
Artist Live/Work Housing
More Housing Resources
Key Documents
Existing Tenants & Owners
Overview
Key Documents
Frequently Asked Questions
Developers
Overview
Key Documents
Frequently Asked Questions
Property Managers
Overview
Key Documents
Frequently Asked Questions
Artist Live/Work Program
Artist Live/Work Housing Overview
Artist Housing Certification
Frequently Asked Questions
Research
Division Overview
Research Publications
Frequently Requested Information
2020 Census
MyCensus Viewer
Domestic Migration Map
Economic Indicators Dashboard
Employment Map
Exploring Neighborhood Change
Mapping Diversity in Boston
Research Inquiries
Data Sets
3D Data & Maps
3D Smart Model
About 3D
3D Data Download
Citywide 3D Model
3D Download Contact
GIS Maps
Division Overview
Census and Demographic Maps
Citywide Maps
Electoral Maps
Neighborhood Maps
Zoning Maps
Historical Maps
The Boston Atlas
Single-sheet Historical Maps
Atlases by Neighborhood
Aerial Photos
Topographic Maps
Harbor Charts
Reference Layers
Urban Renewal
More Resources
Work with Us
Access to Capital
BIDFA
BLDC
Financial Incentives
Additional Resources
Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park
BPDA Owned Land
BPDA Real Estate Decarbonization Strategy
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Requirements for Public Land Dispositions
Procurement
Equitable Procurement
Buying Plan
Procurement Portal
Commercial Spaces for Lease
About Us
Who We Are
Mayor Wu’s Vision for the BPDA
Goals
Implementing Changes
Timeline
Stay Up To Date & Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
Resources
Leadership
BPDA Board
Board Meetings
Meet the Board
Departments
Communications
Community Engagement Managers
Compliance
Development Review
Director's Office
Executive Director/Secretary's Office
Finance
General Counsel
Human Resources
Information Technology
Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Language Access
Planning
Real Estate
Research
Careers at the BPDA
Career Opportunities
Internship and Contractor Opportunities
BRA History
BPDA Achievements
Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park
Glossary
Get Involved
Model Room
Contact Us
Archives
Public Records Request
Press Kit
Credits
Copyright and Disclaimer
Web Page Disclaimer
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use and Copyright
Google Translate Disclaimer
News & Calendar
News & Updates
Calendar
BPDA Board
Contact Us
Get Involved
Glossary
Search BostonPlans.org
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
YouTube
News & Calendar
News & Updates
Calendar
News & Updates
BPDA Celebrates Juneteenth
Jun 18, 2021
"What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July?" - Frederick Douglass
July Fourth is recognized as the day America gained its freedom from rule of the British Empire. The day is honored with brilliant firework displays, parades, and unbounded red, white, and blue celebrations of patriotism.
For many Black Americans, Juneteenth (June 19th), is recognized as the day their ancestors gained their freedom from slavery in America. This day, like July Fourth, is a vital part of our nation’s proud heritage, and a celebration of values and ideals that all Americans hold, unique to only this country in the world. While the colors, displays, and rituals may be different, the recognition and continued remembrance of both days represents our shared values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
A Brief History
Juneteenth is the oldest national celebration of the end of slavery in the United States, and is very much a part of the history and formation of this country as we know it today. Juneteenth references the date that Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce the end of the Civil War, and the liberation of enslaved persons - June 19, 1865. In popular imagination, the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, is often seen as the end of slavery. However, this document was very limited, and quite unenforceable in the Confederate states of the South. It was not until General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Confederate forces to General Ulysses S. Grant in Appomattox, Virginia on the night of April 9, 1865, that the Civil War finally ended. This act of surrender allowed Union forces to regain control in southern territory, and bring an end to the institution of slavery.
At the time of the announcement, some 250,000 African-Americans were being held in bondage in Texas, and President Lincoln had already been assassinated. For many of the newly freed persons, claiming this newfound freedom was also fraught with danger. Many ex-slaves were murdered as they tried to leave their plantations. Many others were forced into new forms of exploitation through means such as the Black Codes, which were state laws, conspired to criminalize petty offenses and aimed at keeping freed people tied to their former owners’ plantations and farms. The most sinister crime was vagrancy – the “crime” of being unemployed – which brought a large fine that few blacks could afford to pay. When they couldn’t pay, these “convicts” were leased to private companies and forced into back-breaking labor in coal mines, turpentine factories, and lumber camps. Despite this, the newly-freed Black Americans in Texas who were able to survive, continued to mark June 19 as their day of freedom with celebrations and gatherings in the following years. Celebrations of Juneteenth spread throughout the United States, sometimes family by family, to new cities and frontiers. At other times, it spread far more rapidly, such as during the Great Migration, when millions of Black Americans left the South in droves to find more tolerable living in the North.
Transition to Today
Juneteenth has become not only a time to commemorate Black liberation from the institution of slavery, but also a time to celebrate the resilience, solidarity, and culture of the Black community. It is a moment for Black Americans to reflect on their ancestral roots, as well as a time to join together to celebrate the freedoms and lives that generations have fought to secure. Today, Juneteenth is marked as much by tradition as it is by the ways that it has adapted over time. During the most difficult times in recent history for Black Americans, communities would use Juneteenth as an opportunity to find strength and peace in one another. The narrative of community growth, progress, and resilience began to emerge over time, and some gatherings even doubled as fundraisers for buying land to host subsequent celebrations. Such was the case with the land that would become Emancipation Park in Houston, Texas. Through all of the moments for joy and solace over time, and for all of the games, dancing, and dress that have become a part of some of the celebrations today, the core remains the same: family, food, and community.
Ultimately, Juneteenth remains incredibly important in modern America. It serves as a celebration of the progress attained over generations of fighting for basic freedoms and rights,while it also serves as a reminder of the work that remains to thoroughly address the inequities that continue to afflict the Black community. On this Juneteenth, and on the holiday from our jobs it has afforded many of us, let us reflect and celebrate how far we have come, while we also refuel our passion for the work necessary to ensure a brighter, more just, and equitable future for all of our children and future generations.
Share This Article:
Previous
Next
Subscribe to our News & Updates
*
indicates required
First Name :
Last Name :
Zip Code :
*
Email: