Juneteenth represents a deeply significant moment in American history, especially here in Texas. On June 19, 1865 Union troops arrived in Galveston and announced to the more than 250,000 then-enslaved Black people in the state were now free, thereby marking the official end to slavery across the nation, despite the Emancipation Proclamation becoming effective in 1863, followed by the 13th Amendment.
Acknowledging that Midtown Houston was once part of the historic Third Ward and Fourth Ward communities, the Midtown Cultural Arts and Entertainment District was invited to join the citywide Juneteenth celebration led by the Third Ward Cultural Arts District and the Emancipation Park Conservancy. In honor of the newly designated federal holiday, Midtown and Fresh Arts hosted an open call and invited artists to submit their design ideas for a mural inspired by Houston’s historically Black neighborhoods, spotlighting Freedman’s Town (also referred to as Fourth Ward), Fifth Ward, Independence Heights, Acres Homes, Sunnyside, South Park, and Third Ward, for public display at Bagby Park located at 415 Gray St, Houston, TX 77002.