In commemoration of the Juneteenth National Independence Day holiday, TechPoint is pleased to help draw attention to numerous events and celebrations in the Greater Indianapolis area, and we encourage all members of the tech community to take part and reflect upon the meaning of the holiday.

The newest Federal holiday, Juneteenth, was signed into law last year by President Joe Biden to mark the end of slavery in the U.S. at the conclusion of the Civil War. While the day has been celebrated by some communities nationwide for more than 150 years, it is only recently that it has crossed cultural boundaries and gained mainstream recognition and acknowledgement.

As children, most Americans learned of the Emancipation Proclamation, which ended legal slavery in 1863. However, few history books chronicle the continuation of slavery in many parts of the U.S. for years until it was finally enforced by the federal government through the army. Juneteenth specifically honors the day in 1865 that enslaved Americans in Galveston, Texas, were brought word that the Confederacy had lost the war and of the proclamation that granted their freedom.

Honoring Juneteenth and celebrating with the community

Index readers may recall that Indianapolis-based urban farm and food co-op, Flanner House, received funding in 2020 from the United Way of Central Indiana’s Social Innovation Fund to invest in an aeroponics operation that eliminated the need for soil and quadrupled the organization’s food production.

Flanner House is a redoubtable success story and one of many local organizations that are focused on social justice and innovative ways of supporting paths to community equity, including through applying new technologies.

Fittingly, Flanner House (2424 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Street) will be the site of one of the city’s most anticipated Juneteenth celebrations on Sunday, June 19, 12-5 p.m. In addition to live music, food trucks, a community art project and 50+ vendors, Flanner House will celebrate the third anniversary of Cleo’s Bodega & Cafe, the first anniversary of Ujamaa Community Bookstore, and a ribbon cutting for Morningstar African-American Wellness Center.

Explore more Juneteenth Events and Celebrations

Both the Indianapolis Recorder and IndyStar have provided extensive Juneteenth event listings that highlight commemorative activities and celebrations across the city.