Juneteenth, the annual African-American celebration of the end of slavery in the United States, got a bit of a later start than the calendar would suggest.

Its origins date back to June 19, 1865, when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger and Union soldiers sailed into Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and all slaves were now free.

That was more than two years after Abraham Lincoln had freed them with the Emancipation Proclamation, which took effect Jan. 1, 1863. But news traveled slowly in those days, and with the war still going on, there were few Union officers in the field available to enforce Lincoln's order, especially in Confederate strongholds.

The action spoke directly to slaves in Texas but would become a national symbol of the overall struggle.

Fast forward 142 years, and lifelong Oxnard resident Donald Montgomery looks back on those days with broad pride as the county's relatively small African-American community gets set to celebrate Juneteenth in his hometown on Saturday.

Juneteenth, Montgomery said, "is a milestone in the path to human rights."

Montgomery compared it to the Magna Carta, the 1215 English charter that would come to influence many laws protecting people through history, and our country's Declaration of Independence in 1776. Those two acts, he said, also moved society toward recognizing human rights.

A time of fellowship

These days, Juneteenth is more about commemoration and jubilation. Saturday's event at the Oxnard Performing Arts and Convention Center park grounds includes a health fair, live entertainment, food and fun, said Bruce Stewart, a member of a local Juneteenth planning committee.

"To me, it's a time of celebration and fellowship for African-Americans," said Stewart, an Oxnard resident since 1973.

The local event is being presented by the Black American Political Association of California's Ventura County chapter. Stewart is a member and past chairman of group.

The health fair, sponsored by Bethel AME Church and St. John's Regional Medical Center, will include free testing for blood pressure, cholesterol, body fat and other wellness barometers.

The Magic Johnson Foundation is sending its HIV/AIDS Mobile Unit for those who want to be tested, Stewart said.

Booths will offer information on Alzheimer's, cancer, stroke, diabetes, heart attacks and overall healthy living.

In addition to the country's national anthem, Stewart said, the Negro National Anthem will be performed.

The latter, titled "Lift Every Voice and Sing," was written and composed in 1899 by brothers James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson. The song, also referred to as the Negro National Hymn, was originally performed by children in Jacksonville, Fla. the Johnsons' hometown as part of a presentation celebrating Lincoln's birthday.

The food at the event is a given, a Juneteenth tradition dating back to the days when everyone brought a special dish for the occasion. Barbecued meats are particularly popular.

Not a political thing'

Saturday will mark the 17th annual local Juneteenth celebration, Stewart said. It is not, he said, a "political thing."

A national Juneteenth Web site states that the event is a time for reflection and rejoicing, a moment taken to appreciate the African-American experience. It is a day when honor and respect are paid for the sufferings and evils of slavery and its aftermath. It is also a day, the site states, to better utilize the energy wasted on racism, plan for the future and pray for peace and liberty for all.

Montgomery, also a member of the local Juneteenth planning committee, said the event here is "purely celebration" and noted that Juneteenth in other places has more content.

"We hope to expand as we move forward and make it a more encompassing event," Montgomery said.

Ventura County's small African-American population makes it tougher for that community to get together to discuss issues or celebrate things such as Juneteenth, Montgomery said.

A 2006 U.S. Census Bureau update placed the county's African-American population around 17,000, a little more than 2 percent of the county's overall 800,000-plus population. That's compared to almost 7 percent in California and almost 13 percent nationwide.

Montgomery, who is aware of the low numbers, said, "Not only are we a small percentage, but we are pretty spread out in the county."

It's not a cluster situation, he pointed out, like South Los Angeles.

But in the end, Juneteenth isn't about numbers or issues, but rather about rights milestones and the broader perspective, Montgomery said.

The event is not just for African-Americans but for all communities regardless of race, nationalities or religions to enjoy. Montgomery issued a blanket invitation to come to Oxnard on Saturday; that, he indicated, is what freedom and liberty are all about.