Homewood-Flossmoor To Host Largest Southland Juneteenth Celebration

On a registration page for the festival, organizers said the goal is "to have a community that is more knowledgeable and motivated to preserve our cultural heritage. To increase awareness and promote the Black Businesses in the Homewood and Flossmoor communities. We would also like to attract potential residents and business owners by highlighting the diversity and sense of community in our neighborhood."
Each June 19, state buildings will lower flags to half-staff and a flag in honor of the holiday will fly in the Capitol Building.
The day has been celebrated as the commemoration of the end of slavery among people of color. On June 19, 1865, the last enslaved people were freed in Galveston, Texas, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
"Just as Illinois led the nation as the first state to ratify the Thirteenth Amendment, in 2021, we are leading the nation in tackling structural racism head on thanks to the guiding vision of Leader Lightford, Representative Ford, Speaker Welch and the entire Illinois Legislative Black Caucus," said Pritzker last year before signing the bill at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield.

With the announcement, Illinois became the 47th state to recognize the day.