Community Impact: Indy Juneteenth’s Summer Celebration and Year-Round Commitment

Indy Juneteenth 2024 offers people in Indiana a full week of events to celebrate Juneteenth. The idea started by power couple and cofounders James and Twjonia Webb to teach Black Americans in the city about our own Independence Day and the deep history of African-American contributions in the States. Webb said he got the idea to host an event after realizing a lot of Black people didn’t know that Juneteenth existed.

Juneteenth dates back to 1865. The holiday commemorates the day that 250,000 slaves in Texas, were declared free by the U.S. Army.  The following year, Black communities in Texas started celebrating our emancipation and over time celebrations expanded through the south, and later throughout the country. Texas made Juneteenth a state holiday in 1980 and it was made a federal holiday in 2021. But, as the Webbs observed, not everyone was familiar with the holiday. So in 2016 they hosted a Juneteenth get-together at their house. The backyard BBQ was well-received and grew year after year. Now, Indy Juneteenth is a full week of events and with sponsors like Old National Bank, Republic Airways, Indianapolis Colts and Hardee’s.

“From the beginning, we didn’t want to create a day to just party, we have a non-profit organization to actually work in our community,” James Webb said.

One of the highlights of the 2024 Indy Juneteenth Celebration is June 13’s FREE College and Career Conference for high school and college students on that includes a financial empowerment class, various panel discussions and workshops. On Saturday, June 15, the 7th annual Indy Juneteenth Celebration will take place. The parade starts at the Madam Walker Theater (617 Indiana Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202), goes through IUPUI’s campus and ends at Military Park, the site of the Juneteenth festival where there are almost 200 vendors and a health and wellness party and VIP.

Y’all know anytime we gather there’s going to be good food and music and this isn’t an exception. There will be 40 Black business owners selling food and DJ sets throughout the day. In addition, Platinum recording group Kut Klose, American Idol celeb Remington Hill and popular local artists Deaon Forever, Kenney Garmon. Indianapolis dance troupes Indy Hittaz annd Dazzling Gems will also perform, keeping the energy up all day. Saturday’s events are FREE unless you choose to upgrade to VIP which will be located inside and includes a cash bar inside, lounge seating, food, photo ops, a designated DJ, misting fan and signature drinks. VIP tickets are just $50.

On Sunday, everyone is invited to celebrate Father’s Day with a boxing exhibition and Knockout Comedy show. Both events will be held at Martin University. After the amateur boxing event, comedians will get in the ring to knock the audience out with their punchlines. Ambur James, an Indy native that has worked with comedians such as Michael Colyer, Earthquake, Melanie Comarcho will headline and other comedians include Dwayne Cobb, Damn Damon and J. Bland Made Man. The week of festivities concludes with a fireworks show at 7pm on Juneteenth, June 19/my birthday.

But, Indy Juneteenth doesn’t stop serving the community with June’s events. Throughout the year there are a variety of events. The CROWN H.E.R. Miss Indy Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant takes place each May. This pageant is for both women and youth and the teenage winner goes on to compete for Miss Juneteenth USA. There are also financial literacy classes that teach the benefits of insurance, financial coaching, how to start a bank account and homeownership classes. “From the beginning, we didn’t want to create a day to just party, we have a non-profit organization to actually work in our community,” Webb said. “Our first goal was to find a way to offer tax assistance so people wouldn’t lose their homes to gentrification. A lot of people dont understand that what funds the local schools are property taxes. So, we help people keep their home.” The organization also offers a youth mentor program, after-school programs and donation drives in the winter for clothing, food and toys.

Webb has a long list of accomplishments but I still know him as “J Dubb” from our time at Indiana State University. During our tenure, he was an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and a big supporter of the African American Culture Center on campus. “I’m the Indiana Stare Director of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation and I help  cities and counties in Indiana with their Juneteenth celebrations and education,” he said. The National Juneteenth Observance Foundation is the oldest organization of its kind and has been pushing oldest to get Juneteenth to be a national holiday since 1999.

Be sure to check out their website and attend as many events as possible. If you’re not able to make it to the Indy Juneteenth Celebration this year you can still grab some merch and donate on the site.

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