📍 Breakdown: 26 Cities with Major Juneteenth Celebrations

Southeast:

• Atlanta, GA – Huge parade, live music, family zone

• Memphis, TN – Festival on the Mississippi + fireworks

• Orlando, FL – Juneteenth 5K & educational symposiums

• Charlotte, NC – Vendor village + youth storytelling

• New Orleans, LA – Food, music, culture by the bayou

Northeast:

• Philadelphia, PA – Historic AAMP exhibits & gospel showcase

• Baltimore, MD – Spoken word, storytelling & street festival

• New York, NY – Broadway block party + family market

Midwest:

• Chicago, IL – Annual Juneteenth Parade & picnic

• Detroit, MI – Wellness walks, cultural talks, food trucks

• Cleveland, OH – Outdoor movie night + music

• St. Louis, MO – Educational workshops + parade

South:

• Houston, TX – Celebrating at historic Emancipation Park

• Dallas, TX – Deep Ellum block party & poetry

• Birmingham, AL – Health & wealth expos

• Jackson, MS – Family freedom fest + Black-owned vendors

• Louisville, KY – Parade + Black Wall Street event

West Coast & Beyond:

• Los Angeles, CA – Grand Park celebration, Black culture exhibits

• Oakland, CA – Freedom Festival & economic empowerment fair

• San Francisco, CA – Parade across Fillmore

• Denver, CO – Street fair, live jazz, unity march

• Seattle, WA – Community rally & soul food

• Phoenix, AZ – HBCU alumni cookout & music

• Minneapolis, MN – Youth dance & spoken word

• Columbus, OH – Citywide Juneteenth march

🎓 HBCUs at the Center

Many of these celebrations include HBCU marching bands, alumni chapters, student orgs, and vendor booths. From performances to education panels, HBCUs continue to be pillars in preserving the legacy of Juneteenth.

🔗 Join the Movement

📷 Tag @THEHBCUORIGINAL
🏷️ Hashtags: #HBCUJuneteenth #Juneteenth2025 #BlackFreedom

Juneteenth—short for June Nineteenth—is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, with federal troops and issued General Order No. 3, announcing that all enslaved people were free.

For the estimated 250,000 Black people still enslaved in Texas, this was the first time they were told of their freedom. While freedom had been the law since January 1, 1863, it wasn’t enforced in remote Confederate states like Texas until Union troops physically arrived.

But Juneteenth is more than a date.
It’s a spiritual and cultural milestone. It represents:

• Delayed justice, but not denied dignity.

• A collective awakening to freedom.

• The beginning of a new fight—for land, civil rights, and equity.

• The power of Black resilience, community, and culture.

Since its origin, Juneteenth has evolved from small family cookouts and church gatherings into nationwide celebrations filled with festivals, education, music, and activism. In 2021, it was officially recognized as a federal holiday, a testament to generations of Black voices demanding that America remember and respect this part of its history.

Juneteenth and Slavery in Texas
In Texas, slavery had continued as the state experienced no large-scale fighting or significant presence of Union troops. Many enslavers from outside the Lone Star State had moved there, as they viewed it as a safe haven for slavery.

After the war came to a close in the spring of 1865, General Granger’s arrival in Galveston that June signaled freedom for Texas’s 250,000 enslaved people. Although emancipation didn’t happen overnight for everyone—in some cases, enslavers withheld the information until after harvest season—celebrations broke out among newly freed Black people, and Juneteenth was born. That December, slavery in America was formally abolished with the adoption of the 13th Amendment.

The year following 1865, freedmen in Texas organized the first of what became the annual celebration of “Jubilee Day” on June 19. In the ensuing decades, Juneteenth commemorations featured music, barbecues, prayer services and other activities, and as Black people migrated from Texas to other parts of the country the Juneteenth tradition spread.

For over a century, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have been more than institutions of higher learning—they’ve been beacons of opportunity, cultural pride, and athletic excellence, often doing more with far less than their Power Five counterparts. But now, in the wake of the historic NCAA settlement approved on June 6, 2025, a new era of college sports is taking shape. And for HBCUs, this moment presents a mixture of promise, peril, and the pressing need to reimagine their role in the evolving landscape of college athletics.

The Fork in the Road

At the heart of the NCAA settlement is the move toward direct revenue sharing with student-athletes, fundamentally changing how college athletes are compensated. Power Five schools—those with multimillion-dollar TV deals and donor pipelines—are preparing to spend upwards of $20 million annually on athlete compensation, either through direct NIL payments or expanded scholarships.

For HBCUs, many of which operate with significantly smaller budgets, the question is clear: Can they keep up, or will this widen the financial and competitive gap?

An Uneven Playing Field Gets Steeper

HBCUs have always had to be innovative. With fewer resources, they’ve relied on community support, passionate alumni, and strong cultural identities to build athletic programs that punch above their weight. However, the new system isn’t just about innovation—it’s about access to capital. When athletes begin to consider direct pay and robust NIL deals as part of their decision-making process, HBCUs risk being left out of the conversation unless they find new funding pathways.

It’s not a level playing field when Alabama can offer a $20M NIL pool, while a program like Mississippi Valley State struggles to maintain facilities or fund recruiting trips.

But There’s Power in Legacy

Still, HBCUs have something many larger schools don’t: authenticity and legacy. In recent years, there’s been a cultural shift with high-profile athletes like Travis Hunter choosing HBCUs, and celebrities such as Deion Sanders putting the spotlight on Black college football. This settlement may, ironically, drive more attention to schools that offer not just a paycheck, but a purpose.

If HBCUs can position themselves as places where athletes can build their brand, stand for something, and grow into complete individuals, they may still attract elite talent looking for more than money.

Strategic Moves Ahead

To remain competitive, HBCUs will need to:

• Build sustainable NIL programs through alumni networks, Black-owned businesses, and innovative branding.

• Leverage cultural capital and media platforms (like HBCU Original and The CW’s HBCU sports broadcasts) to highlight athlete stories.

• Lobby for fair treatment in how roster limits and NIL audits are applied, ensuring they aren’t unfairly penalized for structural disparities.

• Collaborate across conferences like MEAC, SWAC, CIAA, and SIAC to create a unified front and share best practices.

What’s at Stake

This is not just about money. It’s about equity, survival, and legacy. If HBCUs are forced to the sidelines in this new model, it would be a tragic loss not only for Black athletes but for college sports as a whole.

Yet if HBCUs can seize this moment—restructure smartly, fundraise boldly, and tell their stories louder than ever—they can help shape the future of college athletics from a position of strength, not scarcity.

This is the most transformative chapter in NCAA history.

HBCUs must write themselves into it.

Suggested Title for YouTube or Podcast:
“HBCUs at a Crossroads: What the NCAA Settlement Means for Black College Sports”

Suggested Tags:
NCAA settlement, HBCUs, NIL deals, college sports, athlete compensation, MEAC, SWAC, CIAA, SIAC, college football, Black colleges, Deion Sanders, NCAA transformation, NIL Go, Title IX, HBCU athletics

Suggested Description:
The NCAA just approved a historic $2.8 billion settlement, opening the door for schools to pay college athletes directly. But what does this mean for HBCUs? In this breakdown, we explore the opportunities, risks, and future of Black college sports in a new era of revenue sharing and NIL deals. Can HBCUs compete? Or will this widen the gap in college athletics even more? Let’s talk legacy, money, and the path forward.

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Two Eagles legends turned HBCU head coaches are coming back to the city that made them icons — but this time, they’re calling the shots from the sidelines.

On Thursday, October 30, Lincoln Financial Field will host a historic showdown as Michael Vick’s Norfolk State Spartans face off against DeSean Jackson’s Delaware State Hornets. The former NFL teammates — known for electrifying fans during their time with the Philadelphia Eagles — now lead two of the most respected HBCU football programs. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, June 17 at 10 AM at Ticketmaster.com.

“For years, Vick and Jackson gave Philly highlight after highlight,” said Frank Gumienny, COO of the Eagles. “Now, they’re creating a legacy off the field, shaping young lives and elevating HBCU culture. We’re honored to host this game at Lincoln Financial Field.”

Both Vick and Jackson are stepping into their inaugural seasons as college head coaches. Jackson, who famously walked off with the “Miracle at the Meadowlands” in 2010, now brings that same spark to Delaware State. “Being at Delaware State is about transformation — for me and for the students,” said Jackson. “This game is more than football. It’s a cultural moment for HBCUs and a life-changing opportunity for our scholar-athletes.”

Vick, who earned NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2010, echoed the sentiment. “The Linc holds unforgettable memories for me,” he said. “To return as a head coach is surreal, and to do it alongside my brother DeSean is even more special. This is about showcasing what our HBCUs are building.”

More than just a game, the event will include programming focused on career readiness, work-based learning, and networking opportunities — all designed to empower students both on and off the field.

“This isn’t just a game, it’s a platform,” said Dr. Tony Allen, President of Delaware State, and Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston, President of Norfolk State, in a joint statement. “We’re shining a light on the excellence and return on investment HBCUs deliver every day.”

Dr. Melody Webb, Athletic Director at Norfolk State, added, “This is a statement moment for HBCU football. Our players, coaches, and institutions deserve to be seen on a national stage, and this game gives us just that.”

Presented by the Philadelphia Eagles, this matchup represents the power of HBCU pride, legacy, and future — all under the lights at one of the NFL’s most iconic venues.

Source: Adapted from original coverage by PhiladelphiaEagles.com