Crowds gathered along 42nd Street on Saturday as floats and performers at the Indy Juneteenth celebration honored Black history, culture and the end of slavery in the United States.
The parade was just the start. The celebration carried on through the day at the State Fairgrounds with live music, vendors, and fireworks planned for the evening. It was one of several events happening around the weekend.
Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when Union troops reached Galveston, Texas, and enforced the order freeing enslaved people in the Confederacy. It became a federal holiday in 2021.
For the founders of Indy Juneteenth, James and Twjonia Webb, it took nine years to make the celebration what it is today, with setbacks along the way, including last year’s canceled parade.
“People were pretty sad that we couldn't do it last year, pretty upset. So I'm happy that we can bring the community back out, bring the children out to have a good time and celebrate,” James Webb said. “It means a lot because it's been a staple in the state of Indiana for so long. We just want to make sure that it continues to happen for years to come.”
This year’s event is expected to be the largest yet. Webb said more than 1,500 people would walk in the parade. And, it’s the first time Indy Juneteenth has had its parade, festival and fireworks show in a single celebration.
“Me and my husband, we're very passionate about anything that we do, and making an impact on this city is important to us, and so when you work so hard on something, and you have to go through the bumps, the grooves in the road to get things done, and then when you see it just coming to life, it just melted my heart,” Twjonia Webb said.
Along the parade route, Tracy Graham encouraged the cheerleaders and dancers. In response to the parade coming back, she said, “You can’t keep a good person down.”
“It is amazing! And I grew up in this neighborhood, so to see something like this in the neighborhood I grew up in is awesome,” Graham said.
James Webb said that after overcoming the challenges, organizing the event is rewarding.
“It makes me feel like I'm making my ancestors proud. Juneteenth is here because our ancestors were freed from slavery. Doing something like this was their wildest dream, you know,” he said. “They probably couldn't even imagine something like this. So, to be able to do this in honor of them makes me feel like I have an additional purpose to continue on.”
Twjonia Webb said she feels honored to be organizing these events for Indianapolis.
“We appreciate the city of Indianapolis getting behind us and everyone. This is an event for everyone. We want everybody to come out and enjoy all the activities that we're going to have going on,” she said.
Beyond Saturday's celebration, Indy Juneteenth plans other events throughout the year, including the Miss Indy Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant, their College and Career Innovation Conference, and other peace initiatives.
The Webbs said developing financial support for a nonprofit organization is one of their biggest challenges.
“It's trying to control and shape that narrative to show people that we do so many things throughout the year, for not only just Black culture, but American culture as well, because Juneteenth is American culture,” James Webb said.
Contact Reporter Daniel Huber at dhuber@wfyi.org
