In celebration of Juneteenth, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone today launched the interactive Freedom Trail Challenge highlighting African American historical sites within Suffolk County. The trail, which is available on a downloadable app and on Suffolk County’s website, will provide residents an opportunity to learn about the African American history of the county.
Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. On June 17, 2021, it officially became a federal holiday.
“In Suffolk County, we proudly embrace inclusivity and equality and creating this Juneteenth Freedom Trail allows residents of all ages to explore and better understand the rich African American history that our County has to offer,” said County Executive Steve Bellone. “Juneteenth gives us an opportunity to acknowledge and commemorate the progress made in this nation. However, there is still work to be done in regards to eliminating injustice in our country. As the county government, we bear the responsibility of taking meaningful steps to creating an environment where everyone is accepted and treated equally.”
“Creating this Juneteenth Freedom Trail allows for all of the research and information concerning African American historical sites within Suffolk County to be housed under one umbrella,” said Deputy County Executive Vanessa Baird-Streeter. “We are thankful for each of the town’s historians, historical societies, commissions and individuals who have dedicated their work to uncovering the rich history displayed in the Suffolk County Juneteenth Freedom Trail. We encourage educators, administrators, community based organizations and youth groups to participate in our challenge and use the information shared as teachable opportunities for the residents of Suffolk County and beyond.”
The Juneteenth Freedom Trail Challenge is open to all school age children from now until June 15th. The County is working with local school districts, community based organizations and youth organizations to encourage student participation in the challenge.
Students who visit a majority of the historical sites will be recognized at the Juneteenth Jubilee celebration on June 19th. Visiting each location is worth one point; completing the photo challenge at each site is worth one additional point. Prizes will also be awarded for the first, second and third place winners.
“It warms my heart that Juneteenth has gone from a day that many residents were unfamiliar with to a national holiday that we can all celebrate and learn about together,” said Suffolk County Legislature Minority Leader Jason Richberg. “The county’s new Juneteenth Freedom Trail program is an incredible opportunity for our young people to learn about Suffolk County’s history and the numerous historical African American sites across our county. Thank you to County Executive Bellone and our friends at the county’s African American Advisory Board for all of their work on this initiative.”
Mary Cascone, Babylon Town Historian said: “Every day – not just around holidays and anniversaries – the history of African-American people is local history. This a great opportunity to share community stories and history with our Suffolk County neighbors, in this interactive format.”
For more information on how to play, please visit www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Freedom-Trail.
