Black History
From performances to history lessons to festivals, there are plenty of exciting M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation events and activities planned throughout Prince George’s County as we commemorate Black History Month.
Black History Month 2025 Exhibition
Black History Month 2025 Exhibition
“A Good Government Job”: A History of Black
Civil Servants and Federal Government Employment
Exhibition Dates: Monday, January 27 – Friday, February 28, 2025
Opening Reception: Sunday, February 2, 2025, 2 – 5 PM (RSVP at blackhistory@pgparks.com)
All ages, FREE
Montpelier Arts Center
Since the era of emancipation, black migration to the Washington, D.C. region has been fueled by the promise of economic opportunities, especially those opportunities afforded by employment with the federal government. For generations of African Americans, careers in the federal civil service have paved the way for professional advancement and economic security, expanding the ranks of the middle black class. However, this path has also been fraught with obstacles born of the nation’s dark history of segregation and racism. This exhibit explores this complicated history, focusing on how Black federal employment has shaped Prince George’s County.
This exhibition is curated by the M-NCPPC Black History Program. For additional information, email blackhistory@pgparks.com or call 240-264-3415.
To RSVP for the opening reception, email blackhistory@pgparks.com.
The 2025 Black History Month Poster will be unveiled at the Opening Reception on Sunday, February 2, 2025, 2 – 5 PM at Montpelier Arts Center (RSVP at blackhistory@pgparks.com).
Black History Month Poster 2024
Black History is more than just the month of February! The M-NCPPC Black History Program promotes and preserves black history throughout the year with a variety of programs and initiatives. For more information and to join our listserv, email blackhistory@pgparks.com.
JUNETEENTH 2025
Date & Time: TBA
Location: Watkins Regional Park
Stay tuned for updates!
History of Juneteenth
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the emancipation of slavery in Texas and the United States. Juneteenth, an amalgamation of June and nineteenth, originated in Galveston, Texas as a response to General Gordon Granger’s pronouncement on June 19, 1865 that “…all slaves are free.”
Importance
This announcement was necessary because African Americans in the state did not know that slavery had ended two years earlier. On June 7, 1979, more than a century after the abolition of slavery in Texas, Juneteenth became an official state holiday by legislative mandate.
location
While the term Juneteenth, specifically refers to the emancipation of African American slaves in Texas, ‘Emancipation Days’ or ‘Freedom Days,’ are celebrated in multiple states throughout the country. Maryland Emancipation Day traces back to November 1, 1864, when the state adopted a new constitution, which abolished slavery.
Celebration
Juneteenth can be celebrated in a variety of ways, however, celebrations generally focus on family and community. Traditionally, African Americans celebrate Juneteenth by having parades, cookouts, fish-frys, church services, and family reunions. Juneteenth is recognized as a state holiday or special day of remembrance in 42 states and the District of Columbia. Although Maryland is not one of the 42 states, since 2008, the Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) has held an annual Juneteenth celebration in Prince George’s County, which showcases African-American history, genealogy, music, dance and activities for adults and children.
