Oakland County Celebrates Juneteenth, Celebrates Art and Essay Winners

(Crystal A. Proxmire, June 19, 2026)

On Jan 1, 1893, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing slaves in the United States. However, freedom was not instant, especially in Confederate-controlled states like Texas. On June 19, 1865, over 250,000 enslaved people were officially proclaimed free, and that date became known as Juneteenth.

It wasn’t until 2021 that Juneteenth became a national holiday, though states had been recognizing it with increasing frequency beginning with Texas who made it an official state holiday in 1980.This holiday was honored by Oakland County with an event on Thursday, as well as an art and essay contest for students across the county.

Clara Assumpta Buarno of Hill Elementary in Troy won the essay contest for grades K-3. “Freedom means being able to make choices and be yourself,” Bunao wrote. “I think freedom is very important because it helps people learn, grow and be happy.”

The celebration, in front of the Oakland County Courthouse, featured inspirational speakers, the Black National Anthem, the Juneteenth flag raising, live entertainment, food trucks, local organizations and fun activities for families. contest winners were also recognized.

Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter congratulated this year’s winners and praised the students for their thoughtful submissions.

“Juneteenth is a time to reflect on our nation’s history while recognizing the importance of freedom and respect for every person,” said Coulter. “These students demonstrated remarkable creativity and maturity in exploring what freedom means — not only as a historical milestone but also as a responsibility we all share today.”