Santa Barbara Public Library hosts Juneteenth celebration

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Juneteenth celebrations kicked off at the Santa Barbara Public Library on Friday.

Ring Shout performed several songs and dances to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.

Ring Shout Co-Founder Frances Moore believes that recognizing past injustices and celebrating inclusivity helps people feel more seen. She stated, "It really feels good that the library has invited me. That means I'm valuable. we all want to feel--to know-- that we matter."

Audiences enjoyed the live music and had an opportunity to take part in the arts and crafts activities following the performances.

One long time Santa Barbara resident Betsy Shelby shared, "I loved the music...I had to move with the music because it's my culture and it's in my blood."

The library put on this event to spread awareness about this newly federally recognized holiday and encourage the community to educate themselves by reading about Black history.

Senior Librarian of Youth Services Lisa Gonzalez emphasized, "I see this as a really great opportunity to share history with our kids...to be honest about some of the things that happened in the past."

Juneteenth, which takes place on June 19th, is a federal legal holiday, as of June 2021.