Ilyasah Shabazz to be Featured Guest at Juneteenth Celebration, 6/19

The Juneteenth Celebration, set for Thursday, June 19, 2014, will welcome special guest speaker Ilyasah Shabazz, the daughter of Malcolm X, it was announced today.

Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War had ended. General Order No. 3 stated, "The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free."

Join the National Park Service as we commemorate the Civil Rights Movement. Ilyasah Shabazz (pronounced ILL-YAH-SAH SHAH-BOZZ) will give an unforgettable lecture about civil rights. There will be a question-and-answer session followed by a book signing of her latest children's book, "Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up To Become Malcolm X."

Shabazz is an author, producer, and motivational speaker. She served as a member of the U.S. delegation that accompanied President Bill Clinton to South Africa to commemorate the election of President Nelson Mandela. Shabazz is also a mentor for the We Are Family Foundation.

The Juneteenth celebration will take place at the African Burial Ground National Monument, located on the first floor of 290 Broadway in Lower Manhattan, just north of City Hall. African Burial Ground National Monument visitor center is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm. The memorial is open Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm. The visitor center and memorial are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.Plan Your Visit