Phoenix did not yet have its current name in June of 1865, when Black slaves were freed in Texas, months after the Confederacy had surrendered.

City officials are calling out to the public to tell the history of local Juneteenth celebrations over the 150-plus years since.

Public celebrations of the newest federal and city holiday were reportedly inconsistent in white-dominated Phoenix over the decades.

City officials are asking for nominations of people who know local history of Juneteenth to contribute to a documentary project.

Don Logan grew up in south Phoenix, where he says the end of slavery in the U.S. was not talked about.    

“What I would like to see is education. I know there is a element of our community that probably feels that we don’t like to talk about the negative aspects of our history," he said.

Logan is director the city’s Equal Opportunity Department, which is helping with the project.

May 15 is the deadline to nominate people.