Juneteenth Celebration to Honor Africans of “Negro Courts” in 18th Century New England

Seacoast African American Cultural Center President Sandi Clark, left, introduces the Seacoast West African Drum and Dance Group at the 2019 Juneteenth celebration in Portsmouth. [Hadley Barndollar/Seacoastonline]

The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire is commemorating the end of slavery with a day of events in Portsmouth.

The trail says Saturdays events with include readings, music, African drumming and dance and soul food. The celebration will be based around the Middle Street Baptist Church in Portsmouth.

Organizers say this year’s Juneteenth Celebration is honoring Africans of the “Negro Courts” of 18th century New England. The organizers say the events will honor “the people who found ways to establish a culture steeped in African tradition in spite of the shackles of enslavement.”

Juneteenth is a national event that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. It became an officially recognized holiday in New Hampshire this year.

SOURCE: AP