As part of Galveston’s historic 160th Juneteenth Celebration, the city proudly honors author and historian Anthony P. Griffin as an honorary contributor to this occasion.
Mr. Griffin is the author of The Water Cries, a deeply moving and meticulously researched book that brings long-overdue attention to the history of slave auction houses once active in Galveston.
Through powerful storytelling and historical insight, The Water Cries traces the painful and often overlooked realities of Galveston’s role in the transatlantic slave trade. Griffin’s work offers readers a rare and unflinching look into the lives of enslaved people—before emancipation, in the throes of freedom’s arrival, and in the decades that followed. His writing preserves the voices and legacies of those who lived through that turbulent era and ensures that Galveston’s story is not forgotten but remembered with dignity and truth.
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By documenting the brutal transactions and systemic injustice of local auction houses, Griffin sheds light on how deeply slavery was woven into the economic and social fabric of the island. But he also lifts up stories of resilience, family, and hope. His book is a reminder that Juneteenth is not only a celebration—it is a reckoning with the past, and a recommitment to justice and remembrance.
Council Member Sharon Lewis, a proud Galveston native and District 1 representative, championed the inclusion of Mr. Griffin in this year’s celebration. “His work is an essential part of this day,” she shared. “It connects us to the generations before us who endured unthinkable suffering and still found a way to build community, faith, and identity. We honor them when we honor the truth.”
As festivities unfold at the McGuire-Dent Recreation Center on June 19, visitors will not only enjoy music, community, and fireworks—but also walk in the legacy of those whose stories The Water Cries so powerfully elevates.
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📍 Juneteenth Celebration
Date: Wednesday, June 19, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Location: McGuire-Dent Recreation Center, Galveston
Event Highlights:
- Opening remarks from Mayor Craig Brown and City Manager Brian Maxwell
- A free live concert by world-renowned violinist Dominique Hammons
- Fireworks spectacular beginning around 9:15 PM
Bring your lawn chairs, gather your family, and be part of an evening that blends remembrance with celebration, art with truth—and honors both where Galveston has been, and where it’s going.
