The sidewalks along Welton Street in the Five Points neighborhood Saturday were once again filled with the sounds of a community mingling together.
After last year’s hiatus, the Juneteenth celebration, which annually honors June 19, 1865, the date Texas slaves were freed, marked a way local vendors and community members could come together to celebrate African-American culture.
Tents lined both sides of Welton, where a variety including African-American art, music, food and health care services were offered. The parade along Welton featured Clydesdale horses, marching bands and vintage cars.
Everyone seemed to be having a good time.
“I love the parade, the food and the entertainment and especially the gyros,” said Clifford Taylor, a resident of the area for 20 years. “It’s a representation of the black community and how it comes together to celebrate heritage.”
Others had more personal reasons for attending.
For Shekura Landrum, 23, of Denver, the festival and parade was a day of reflection on an issue she feels is affecting Denver’s minority communities: violence.
Landrum’s 21-year-old brother, Kurt Levias, was shot to death coming out of a concert at the Bluebird Theatre four years ago. On Saturday, she marched carrying a large photo of her brother.
“It’s great to see people come together to bring out the culture and show that we are not violent against each other, and that we can come out as one and not end in violence,” Landrum said.
Landrum has long attended Juneteenth and is a member of a faith-based support group for women who have lost loves ones to violence.
“It’s great for them to learn new experiences, have role models, and to see the community come together to help people,” Landrum said.
Last year, Denver’s Juneteenth festival was canceled by event organizers because a producer of the event backed out.
But former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb and several community leaders brought back the event this year without a hitch.
The first Juneteenth celebration took place in Texas in 1866. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that June 19 became a formal holiday in Texas.
Colorado’s celebration is one of the larger ones in the region.
Anna Haislip: 303-954-1638, or ahaislip@denverpost.com
