Juneteenth

Sun., June 14, 2 p.m., $15, Laurel Hill Cemetery, 3822 Ridge Ave., 215-228-8200, thelaurelhillcemetery.org.

by Sherri Hospedales

[ walk/tour ]

On July 4 each year, we blow stuff up, eat barbecue and throw block parties — all in the name of independence. But maybe we shouldn't. Back on that same date in 1776, a sizable chunk of the population — blacks, as well as women and many immigrants — was far from free.

June 19, known as Juneteenth, is considered by many to be the true African-American Independence Day: It celebrates the delivery of the Emancipation Proclamation to the slaves of Texas in 1865.

Almost 150 years later, Laurel Hill Cemetery honors the date by paying respects to both black and white heroes of the Civil War. Attendees can take a walking tour of the site, visiting the graves of people who were involved with emancipation and Reconstruction, including Thomas Kane, an American politician and an agent of the Underground Railroad; Gen. Alexander Cummings, who organized five regiments of black infantry; and Gen. Edgar Gregory, who helped runaway slaves escape to Canada.

Although black slaves and freedmen helped win the Civil War, they still weren't allowed to be buried at Laurel Hill. Rather than cower from its segregated past, the cemetery encourages education and discussion about what happened. "At the time of Juneteenth, blacks were not allowed to be buried here or anywhere. But that doesn't mean we can't talk about it," says Gwen Kaminski, director of programming. "We need to understand why it happened and how it happened so it will never happen again."