Farmingville, NY – -NY - On June 18, the Town of Brookhaven Black History Commission (BHC) held its annual Juneteenth celebration in recognition of the 157th anniversary of the end of slavery in 1865. Juneteenth marks the anniversary of the announcement of General Order No. 3 by Union Army general Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, proclaiming freedom for enslaved people in Texas. The annual Town event was held at the historic Longwood Estate in Ridge and included a BBQ picnic, games, music, dancing and activities for children. Pictured left to right are BHC member Dr. Georgette Grier-Key; Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich; BHC member Charlotte Pressley; BHC Chairwoman Dr. Corrinne Graham; Councilman Dan Panico; Supervisor Ed Romaine; Councilman Michael Loguercio; Tax Receiver Lou Marcoccia; BHC Member Tracy Todd Hunter and BHC member Clayton Hudson.
About the Town of Brookhaven Black History Commission: In 1991, a Black History Month Committee was formed in observance of Black History Month. Two years later, the Town Board established a permanent Black History Commission to provide continuity in planning and organizing a Black History Night celebration every February. The purpose of these celebrations is to acknowledge and honor the contributions of national and local African Americans, nationally and locally, while fostering an appreciation for their culture and heritage. In 2014, the Town board recognized that celebrating African American culture should not be limited to one specific month, so they unanimously passed a resolution expanding and broadening the scope of the Black History Commission. The commission now works on year-round programming to promote black history and culture in the Town of Brookhaven through events and community outreach.
