Fort Myers' Dunbar neighborhood celebrates Juneteenth with pride

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) —Juneteenth means more than just a holiday for the people of Dunbar.

People across the country are celebrating Juneteenth, the federal holiday that commemorates June 19, 1865, the day enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned they were free.

WINK News spoke with people celebrating the holiday in Southwest Florida to find out what the day means to them.

For Rose Eady Govan, who was born and raised in Dunbar, the day carries deep personal meaning.

"Juneteenth is not just a celebration, it is a part of us, it is a part of our heritage," Govan said.

Govan reflected on the weight of that moment in history, more than 161 years ago, when the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were freed, even though the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed two years earlier.

"I felt so bad for them, and then on the other hand, I'm so happy that they did receive freedom," Govan said.

Charles Barnes Jr., chairman of the Lee County Black History Society, took WINK News on a tour through Dunbar's Black history, covering both the painful and the proud moments that shaped the community.

"It represents an ending to a horrible period. But the fact that we celebrate it the way we celebrate it is a credit to this country," Barnes said.

Barnes also spoke about the people who helped shape the path for those who came after them.

"Those of us who was also born here and lived here, they sort of left the pathway," Barnes said.

The Black History Museum in the heart of Dunbar stands as a reminder of that heritage. Long-time neighbor Carletha Griffin said the community's story is one of resilience.

"We have crossed a lot of barriers, a lot of everything. Our people are survivors," Griffin said.

For the people of Dunbar, the message they want everyone to take away from this holiday comes down to one thing: unity.

"The basic and bottom line is that we come together and we have to as a people learn to love each other," Govan said.

There will be several Juneteenth celebrations throughout the weekend to commemorate the holiday.