No One Celebrates Like Milwaukee
In Milwaukee, Juneteenth is the longest continuously-running celebration in the United States. The day is filled with activities, performances, a parade, and a festival for families and community members of varying interests and ages.
The 2024 celebration welcomed over 40,000 attendees to Milwaukee’s Northside, lining Martin Luther King Jr. Drive with food, music, community organizations, and city representatives.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Milwaukee is home to 240,203 African Americans, comprising 69.4 percent of Wisconsin’s African American population. The Black community is the largest racial minority group in Wisconsin.
JCP Construction Principal Clifton Phelps, who was out vending at Juneteenth, has recognized the importance of the holiday since his childhood growing up in Milwaukee.
“Me and my brothers, which are my business partners, we were raised literally on 2nd and Locust,” said Phelps. “ I don’t think I ever missed a Juneteenth, I’m 43, in 40 years. So it was very important for us to one, give back to the community with all the handouts we did today. Two, to be here to represent Juneteenth because we were repping it before it was a federal holiday.”
Organizations and businesses such as Visit Milwaukee and Bronzeville Center of the Arts came together to celebrate Black pride, advancement, and community.
“We’re at Juneteenth Day, the country’s oldest, longest-running Juneteenth Day, in the country,” said Peggy Williams, president and CEO of Visit Milwaukee. “It’s amazing to bring people together and celebrate, and collaborate.”
To watch Carvd N Stone’s Milwaukee 53rd Juneteenth interviews, click here.
Maria Peralta-Arellano is a Milwaukee-native journalist who focuses on sharing news from her local communities. She dedicates her work to accessibility and producing bilingual coverage focused on arts, culture, and politics. She looks to explore her community through a journalistic and creative lens.
