By Gloria DULAN-Wilson
Hello All:
Well, it's almost June - which I have officially renamed Black People's Month because so many wonderful things to celebrate about us during that time seem to come back to back, nonstop for the entire month. Black Music Month, Caribbean Heritage Month, and The Day of The African Child, Odunde', as well as JUNETEENTH, are all celebrated in June!! There are no end of things to do and be proud of - and nothing is more singularly important to Black people than Juneteenth, or Liberation Day for those Black people who were held in slavery two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863 - signed into Law by President Abraham Lincoln as an executive order (and later ratified by Congress as the law of the land). It has now become our official holiday, to be celebrated with as much energy, spirit and fervor (and perhaps a bit more reverence) as the 4th of July has been.
Now a newly minted national holiday, Black
people - and a few avaricious caucasoids looking to profit from it -
around the world are gearing up to be part of this wonderful event.
Philadelphia was the first city on the East Coast to have Juneteenth
officially recognized as a local holiday; then through the efforts of Tamara
Staley, Kofi Asante, Ron Brown, and a bus load others who formed The
Juneteenth Family, it officially became a state holiday throughout
Pennsylvania. And now we are celebrating it as a National Holiday. How awesome! Make sure, when you see them that you say THANK YOU! BLESS YOU! WE LOVE YOU FOR LOVING US ENOUGH TO WORK SO HARD TO CELEBRATE OUR HERITAGE!
As a child in Oklahoma, I, along with my family, neighbors, friends grew up celebrating Juneteenth. For us, it was more along the lines of family reunions, cookouts, and parties. Now, however, it's much more lavish and elaborate - including parades, panels, press releases, souvenirs, etc. There are panel discussions, historic writings and recitings, and souvenirs. What a wonderful time to be a part of this renewed energy and reverence for our heritage!! What wonderful opportunities for our children, as well as many of our peers, to learn about and participate in Juneteenth. There will be a series of events leading up to the day of days that you'll want to be involved with - some are listed below, others are on FaceBook and other social media sites.
Now that Juneteenth
is a National Holiday, it's subject to the natural rounds of
exploitation other holidays fall prey too - you know: Holiday sales,
knockoff of logos, signature clothings. It probably can't be helped -
America will monetize anything. But this time, let's make sure that
when caucasoids do their usual cultural appropriation for profit, that
they give credit where credit is due to the originators who worked so
hard to make this day happen; and also kick back 50%
of the profits they make to be used for Black scholarships, education,
health, housing and so many things that are needed. Send that message
to WAWA, Walmart, and others who are looking to capitalize on our
history, heritage and legacy!
And in the interim, Mark Your Calendars, get your cameras, and get ready to celebrate Juneteenth 2022!!
Welcome to The Philadelphia Juneteenth Family's 2022 Annual Juneteenth Celebration! A celebration of liberation and unity.
The Philadelphia Juneteenth Family invites you to participate in this joyous, historic occasion, Juneteenth, that will be celebrated throughout the city, the state, and the nation.
Commencing on Monday, June 6th, The Philadelphia Juneteenth Family will host the annual Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony, in conjunction with the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation and other states who will be holding similar celebrations across the nation. The Philadelphia Juneteenth Family's program will begin at 11:30 am at City Hall, at the Flagpole on the North Broad Street side.
As guests arrive, they will be regaled by the sounds of New Orleans Jazz performed by the Universal Dance and Drum Ensemble's UCC Brass Band. Beautiful renditions of the National Anthem, and the Black National Anthem performed by the St. Thomas’ African Episcopal Church’s Gospel Choir.
General Order #3, issued by Union Army General Gordon Granger to announce the end of slavery in Texas, will be read by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier. This is the same historic order read to those who were still being held as slaves in Texas on June 19, 1865, two years after other slaves in the south had already been set free. These last remaining enslaved Africans in Galveston, Texas, learning that the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed two years prior by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 and that they were now free and no longer bound. There was jubilation, dancing, and celebration on that historic day that became known as JUNETEENTH. Newly freed slaves burst into dancing and singing and praising God, pulling family and friends out of the fields, and that day continued to be celebrated broadly throughout all the plantations and ranches in Texas, eventually spreading to Oklahoma (which was free territory), Louisiana, Missouri, and other neighboring states, amongst formerly enslaved Black people.
The celebration in Philadelphia this year will include Councilmembers Jamie Gauthier and Kenyatta Johnson, Rev. Dr. Malcolm Byrd of the Governor's Advisory Commission on African American Affairs., Gwen Ragsdale, Executive Director of the Lest We Forget Museum of Slavery, Voffee Jabateh, President/CEO of the African Cultural Alliance of North America, Anthony Murphy, Executive Director at Town Watch Integrated Services, Mike Jones Founder/President Impact Network , Sam Staten, Business Manager Laborers’ Local 332, Dr. Brenda Allen, President of Lincoln University, Ron Brown, Founder/CEO Pennsylvania Juneteenth Coalition along with other community leaders, who have been invited to speak. Our keynote speaker is Ben Haith, the creator of the National Juneteenth Flag.
The Philadelphia Juneteenth Family, along with our community partner, the Greater Philadelphia YMCA, is also presenting a Juneteenth Poster and Essay Contest for Children and Youth enrolled in their programs, ages 6-19. Contest winners’ posters and essays will be on display at local YMCAs.
Another stellar highlight of the 2022 Juneteenth Celebration will be the "Garvey Freedom Lights" Project, featuring the Black Liberation colors of Red, Black & Green. The lighting will start June 13 and continue through June 19th. We will light up the Philadelphia skyline and the colors will be displayed throughout the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection on skyscrapers, city buildings, and landmarks including Boat House Row, Ben Franklin Bridge, Philadelphia Airport Tower, Parx, Rivers and Live! Casinos, Independence Blue Cross, the PECO Crown Lights, North Broad Street Lights, Cira Centre South, FMC Tower, Liberty Place One and Two, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Ritz Carlton Hotel, Lincoln Financial Field, Wells Fargo Center, and Citizens Bank Park. The best times to tour and see the Garvey Freedom Lights will be June 17th through 19th, starting at dusk each evening.
This year we will launch “June-B Black Culture Month(c)” in collaboration with the Philadelphia Art Museum introduce to the Philadelphia community a combined celebration of Juneteenth and Black Music Month. We are producing an exciting 2 1/2-hour tribute for Juneteenth and Black Music Month through a musical concert by “Rashaan Rich and The June-B!! All Stars”. We will have a variety of different musical genres performed to highlight the many contributions made by African American, African, and Caribbean music as an expression of freedom utilizing the African American art form of jazz as its foundation.
On Friday June 17th, 2022, at the great staircase at the Philadelphia Art Museum from 5 PM to 8:30 PM “June-B!!” will take center stage in celebration of Juneteenth and Black Music Month.
In addition, we will present an historical overview of Juneteenth and the importance of Black music are on the agenda that will emphasize our motto, “One People, One Cause, One Destiny”.
Juneteenth 2022 will have something for everyone, as we continue to celebrate its history and importance in the spirit of Freedom and Solidarity.
Please check our Facebook page (@phillyjuneteenthfamily) for additional information.
One People, One Cause, One Destiny!!
FOR Additional Information CONTACT:
Tamara Staley
215-472-5416
NOW THAT YOU KNOW
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
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| Gloria DULAN-Wilson |
