Juneteenth Celebration

Celebrate Juneteenth, the holiday that commemorates the day the Emancipation Proclamation reached enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865.

Schedule of Events

10:00 am: Family Storytime

11:00 am: Historical Figure Portrayal: David Page, early Black Olathe resident

After the Civil War ended, newly freed, Southern blacks, know as “Exodusters” fled Southern states because of continued racism and violence, as well as economic and social poverty. During this period, some 16,000 blacks settled across Kansas with nearly 900 African American residents in Johnson County by 1880.

African American often formed their own neighborhoods in response to racist, segregationist white attitudes and actions. In Olathe, Blacks were forced to create their neighborhood away from the downtown area and instead settled in the Fairview neighborhood. Within these racialized neighborhoods, African Americans created their own schools and churches and became business owners.

In this historical portrayal, you'll meet one such business owner, David Page. Page was a Civil War veteran and one of the first Black Olathe residents. Page will be portrayed by Br. John Anderson.

Corinthian Nutter: Corinthian Nutter is portrayed by Brandee Mack. Nutter was born in Texas and moved to Kansas City, MO, in the 1920s. She earned her high school diploma in 1936, after dropping out in her late teens. She then completed her bachelor's degree from Western University in Quindaro and earned her Kansas teaching certificate in 1938. She was hired to teach at Walker Elementary School in Merriam and the segregated school had two rooms and eight grades. When African American students were denied entrance to a newly built school, she along with Esther Brown organized a legal challenge. She then provided testimony when the case reached the Kansas Supreme Court in 1949. This case was one of many bundled together that eventually became the Brown v Topeka Board of Education case. Mrs. Nutter eventually taught at Westview Elementary School in Olathe, where she eventually became principal. She retired from education in 1972 and continued to be a community activist until her death in 2004.

11:30 am to 1:30 pm: Jadabay’s Tasty Kitchen Food Truck on-site

1:00 pm: Historical Figure Portrayal: David Page, early Black Olathe resident (repeat of 11:00 am program)

1:30 pm: Family Storytime

3:00 pm to 4:00 pm: How the Word is Passed Discussion

3:00 pm to 4:00 pm: Children's Craft

Throughout the day: Make buttons and bracelets in the Lab, visit and make purchases from black-owned businesses exhibited throughout the library (Black-owned Business Expo).

Some special presentations happening as pop-up events throughout the day include music, dance and spoken word.