Juneteenth is a holiday that honors the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. While celebrations of the holiday date back to the late nineteenth century, Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday in 2021. President Biden signed legislation last year to make Juneteenth a federal holiday, saying that “all Americans can feel the power of this day, and learn from our history,” and explained that singing the law was a great honor. In light of Juneteenth being a federal holiday, members of the Mamaroneck community have worked to create a celebration to honor the emancipation of the enslaved African Americans. 

This year, OneMamaroneck, a community organization with the goal to promote diversity in the area, organized a festival to celebrate this day. The festival was centered around the five pillars of food, family, music, education, and faith. All proceeds from the event are being donated to Recognizing Enslaved Africans of Larchmont and Mamaroneck (REALM). REALM is a group of local residents focused on bringing light to the communities past ties to slavery. The group works to educate the community and honor the enslaved men, women, and children who helped to build the Mamaroneck community. REALM’s goals for the future to continue seeking justice for the enslaved people from Mamaroneck include: recognizing the enslaved, engaging the community, educating, and raising funds for a memorial that would honor the enslaved. The main events of the festival were set to include food vendors, music, outdoor games, African drummers, a basketball tournament, and a repainting of the Black Lives Matter street mural.