How can you help lift up Black voices in Knoxville? This Juneteenth event is a start, For Constance Every, Juneteenth could not have come at a better time. In the wake of George Floyd's death May 25 and the other Black lives unjustly lost since, there is a new level of awareness when it comes to issues Black people face in the United States, said Every, an organizer for Knoxville's Juneteenth Freedom Rally. The holiday celebrates Black freedom. So how did it shift from emancipation to where we are today? That's one of the main questions the Juneteenth Freedom Rally hopes to address Friday evening when an estimated 5,000 people gather in Knoxville's Caswell Park to celebrate freedom — and march against injustice. An 'all day long' celebration Black Lives Matter Knoxville, along with Every and countless other individuals and organizations, are spearheading the event at Caswell Park — the first of its scale in Knoxville. The Beck Cultural Exchange Center has held events in previous years, but those events have not received the attention they deserve, Every said. The center will hold a virtual town hall ahead of the event at Caswell Park on Friday, and additional Juneteenth events are being sponsored by other organizations around town. But it's understood that the main event is at Caswell Park, and everybody is working around it, making sure as many people as possible show up. “You're definitely going to hear about it, and you're going to be kicking yourself in the butt (if you don't go)," Every said. "I think it's pretty dope that (Friday), all day long, Juneteenth will be celebrated by different organizations in the city." What to expect at the event The event at Caswell Park will feature various speakers and a performance of the "Black National Anthem." Census counts and voter registration drives will take place, and a march will be held from Magnolia Avenue to Olive Street to East Fifth Avenue and back. At the park, there will be a variety of Black vendors and businesses on hand providing food and services. But here's the thing: These businesses are not allowed to sell their items since the space is being used for free, Every said. Tips and donations are the only payments acceptable. That's why Jen McMahon organized a GoFundMe for the event, with all money going directly to participating Black-owned vendors. As of noon Thursday, the campaign had raised more than $4,000, well above its $2,500 goal. While these donations are great, McMahon said, "white people have a tendency to make things a social media trend." They fail to make Black-owned businesses part of their everyday life. In her eyes, supporting these businesses is part of "our reparations." "We can't stop talking about this," she said. "We need to continue to lift up Black voices." 'The ugly truth' of racism This year, Juneteenth comes as the country grapples with its long-standing history of systemic racism. Nationwide protests against police brutality and racism have erupted since the death of George Floyd, and scores of Confederate monuments have been taken down. "Until white people are willing to face the ugly truth of their ancestral culture, which is racism, this problem won't go away," she said. "Dear white people: Racism is your problem." It's just like how you shouldn't ask a murder victim's family how to stop murder, she added. White people shouldn't ask Black people how they can stop racism. "People are more aware, and people are actually more interested in learning African American history, which is, again, American history," she said. This history is something that's not properly taught in schools, Every said — a problem she believes needs to be addressed. Every also hopes to talk about gun violence in Black communities at Friday's event. This is something elected officials draw a lot of attention to, preventing important issues like police body cameras and Black poverty from getting talked about, she said. What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth, held every year on June 19, commemorates the Emancipation Proclamation in the United States. Why this date? On June 19, 1865, Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger informed a reluctant community in Galveston, Texas, that President Abraham Lincoln had freed enslaved people in rebel states 2½ years earlier. Although Lincoln proclaimed the emancipation of enslaved people, effective Jan. 1, 1863, enslavers were responsible for telling them that they were free, and some ignored the order until Union troops arrived to enforce it, according to Cliff Robinson, founder of Juneteenth.com. Texas was the last Confederate state to have the proclamation announced. Want to attend? Here's how This year's event wouldn't be possible without volunteers. "I put up one post on Facebook ... and it was so overwhelming," Every said. The post had more than 500 responses from people wanting to help out. A condensed group of people was selected from that list to help provide services from sound production to security and promotion. But there is one thing you can still to do help: attend. Every admits that social distancing might be difficult, so everyone should wear a mask. A distillery is donating hand sanitizer, and there will be hand-washing stations throughout the event. The event starts at 6 p.m. and is scheduled to wrap up at 9:30 p.m. Caswell Park is at 620 Winona St. "If you don't make it to this event, you're going to miss out," Every said. USA TODAY contributed to this report.