On a bright and historic day in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, a city steeped in resilience and renaissance, the streets pulsed with more than celebration. They echoed with unity, reverence, and revival. At the heart of it all stood Chris “Handles” Franklin — the Grand Marshal of the 2025 Harrisburg Juneteenth Parade — embodying the power of movement, not just with a basketball, but with a message.
Franklin, a native son of the city and globally respected basketball showman, didn’t just lead a parade. He led a moment. A living procession of history, culture, and community that reminded Harrisburg — and the nation — what Juneteenth is truly about.
Juneteenth: Freedom Realized, Legacy Honored
Juneteenth is not just a date. It is a declaration. June 19, 1865, marks the day Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the emancipation of enslaved African Americans — over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It is a day of truth-telling. Of delayed justice finally arriving. It is a celebration born from pain, yet radiant with power. Juneteenth is America wrestling with its conscience and finding its soul.
And on this day in Harrisburg, the soul of the city danced through the streets — drums thundering, children laughing, elders praying, and culture blazing like fire through every block.
The Spirit of Handles: From the Court to the Community
Chris Franklin’s story is emblematic of what Juneteenth represents. A story of breaking limits. Of lifting others as you climb. Of excellence that refuses to ask for permission. From the blacktops of Hall Manor to arenas around the world, Franklin’s name has become synonymous with skill, swag, and service. He’s not just a player — he’s a playmaker in every room he enters.
To see him as Grand Marshal, high-stepping through Harrisburg’s streets with a smile that stretched wider than the Susquehanna River, was to see a hometown hero crowned in the light of freedom, unity, and purpose. He waved not just to fans, but to future generations. He represented what it looks like when our children are given the power to dream, the space to lead, and the chance to return home not as statistics, but as symbols of hope.
A Salute to Airis Smallwood: The Architect of Impact
This historic day would not have breathed life without the tireless leadership of Airis Smallwood, the visionary who orchestrated the event with precision, passion, and purpose. Her commitment to ensuring Juneteenth was not just acknowledged, but honored — not just attended, but felt — cannot be overstated.
Airis did more than plan a parade. She curated a cultural awakening. She gathered voices from every corner of the city and wove them into a living testimony of Black excellence, community resilience, and forward momentum. In a world where too many choose silence, she chose significance. And the city is better because of her.
This Was More Than a Parade
This was a homecoming of history. A sacred reminder that progress must be celebrated, but never paused. That unity is a verb. That our roots stretch deep, but our reach extends even further.
In honoring Juneteenth, Harrisburg didn’t just remember the past. It recommitted to the future.
Chris “Handles” Franklin led that charge. And Airis Smallwood made it possible.
To both — we say thank you. For your leadership. Your legacy. And your love for Harrisburg.
Because when preparation meets purpose, a city doesn’t just march. It moves.