For generations, Juneteenth has held a special significance in Houston’s historic Black communities, from Acres Homes and Third Ward to Fifth Ward and Sunnyside.
To kickstart the celebrations, hundreds of residents gathered for the annual Acres Homes Juneteenth Parade, a tradition that community leaders and residents say remains as important today as ever. The parade traveled from the Acres Homes Multi-Service Center to Dolly Wright Street.
Church floats, community organizations, elected officials’ Juneteenth flags, and business-sponsored vehicles lined the parade route. The vehicles were adorned with red, black, and green Juneteenth balloons.
Long before the first parade entry rolled down the street, residents lined the route in lawn chairs, under umbrellas and pop-up tents, staking out spots along the roadside. Families stretched for blocks along the parade route, waving fans against the heat, chatting with neighbors and cheering as each float or decorated vehicle passed by.
In the distance, the sounds of brass instruments could be heard as marching bands filled the streets. Meanwhile, parade attendees perched on truck beds or tried to beat the heat inside cars, as riders on horseback drew cheers from residents and Juneteenth banners fluttered in the breeze. Sequined dance uniforms and Juneteenth T-shirts dominated the parade fashion. The parade also looked like a living reunion, where grandparents pointed out familiar faces and younger generations experienced a tradition many grew up attending.
“Working alongside other community leaders to host the 2026 Acres Homes Juneteenth Parade was truly an honor,” State Rep. Charlene Ward Johnson, who organized the parade, told the Defender. “This year’s parade centered on continuing a beloved, historic tradition while honoring the legacies of Acres Homes advocates who are no longer with us. For many residents of Acres Homes, the parade also stood as a statement, reaffirming our history and culture in the face of ongoing efforts to undermine DEI initiatives and erase Black history.”
The holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved Texans in Galveston finally learned they were free. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, but its implementation was delayed and limited to areas still under Confederate control, particularly in Texas. The historical significance of the day is now celebrated as Juneteenth.
This year’s parade, a tradition founded in 2008 by the late Mayor and Congressman Sylvester Turner, faced scheduling conflicts and resource challenges that threatened its future.
It was originally set to pause in 2026 due to concerns about public safety and law enforcement resources during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which overlaps with the Juneteenth holiday period. In a statement, Ashley Turner-Captain, daughter of Turner, announced an alternate celebration at Lone Star College-Houston North’s Victory campus in Acres Homes on June 20, 2026.
However, Ward Johnson eventually rallied support for the original parade to move forward.
On Juneteenth, as freedom and liberation
For many attendees, Juneteenth remains a powerful symbol of freedom. Shannon Baldwin, judge at Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 4, connected the holiday to resilience and survival.
“We are the ancestors of some of the greatest survivors,” she said. “I feel so honored and privileged that that’s what runs through my bloodline. It’s why I’m able to get on the bench every day and do the things that I do. I remember the importance of being free, and I ensure that freedom and justice happen every day in the courtroom.”
Several residents emphasized that Juneteenth is not merely a historical observance but an ongoing reminder of the meaning of freedom.
Tonya Jones, judge of Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 15, described Juneteenth as “a constant reminder of the struggles that we’ve overcome” and of society’s responsibility to continue the progress made by the community’s ancestors.
“As we reap the benefits of the blood, sweat, and tears that our ancestors gave, it is our responsibility to continue that legacy and to [create] impact in a positive way,” Jones said.
Norma Thomas, a playwright and arts entrepreneur, said the holiday is important because “there was never a moment in time where we had to stop and acknowledge that we are a free people.”
“If you don’t acknowledge that you are free people, you won’t behave like a free people,” Thomas added. “That is the significance of it, to remind ourselves that we are no longer in bondage. And while we may feel like we’re mentally and economically in bondage…at some point, those psychological chains will begin to fall away. They will ultimately be dissolved.”
On community and togetherness
Eugena Franklin, an employee at the Harris County District Attorney’s office, described the celebration as a time when families reconnect and neighbors come together. Many of those lining the parade route, she said, have lived in Acres Homes for years, continuing traditions that connect generations.
“They take it as a time to recognize how they grew up in the neighborhood and their traditions and how they continue to get together as a family with the community and celebrate Juneteenth,” Franklin said.
“This year’s parade centered on continuing a beloved, historic tradition while honoring the legacies of Acres Homes advocates who are no longer with us. For many residents of Acres Homes, the parade also stood as a statement, reaffirming our history and culture in the face of ongoing efforts to undermine DEI initiatives and erase Black history.”
State Rep. Charlene Ward Johnson
The importance of passing down history emerged as a recurring theme throughout the parade. The annual event has become one of Houston’s most recognizable Juneteenth traditions. Since 2008, the parade has grown into a major community gathering that highlights local history while bringing together residents from across the city.
“We celebrate this here, so that the memory can always go on, not just for our generation, but even for the younger generations to come,” said resident Lonnie Perry. “We want the movement to always go on, we don’t never want to die like so much of our history has today.”
