Written by Tanya Terry
The “Traditional Flint Juneteenth” celebration takes place this year June 9-19.
Juneteenth is a national holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans celebrated on the anniversary of the order, issued by Major General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, proclaiming freedom for slaves in Texas.
The “Traditional Flint Juneteenth” celebration has taken place for 51 years in the Flint and Genesee County community. At the forefront, Juneteenth is about collaboration and partnerships, according to DeWaun E. Robinson, Traditional Flint Juneteenth chair.
“What’s at the core, we’re celebrating liberation,” added Robinson. “We’re celebrating and giving tribute to our ancestors. We want to be able to educate our young people so they know about Juneteenth-not just about June 19 and us being deemed as free through a proclamation, but really understanding what we mean to this world-the sacrifices that we have made being in this country. When you think about us being the original people, we owe so much more to ourselves. We have to celebrate ourselves. We have to continue on with traditions…”
Robinson said although a lot of people like to have fun on Juneteenth, “you have to look into the past to know where you’re going in the future.”
This year, Robinson said the Traditional Flint Juneteenth celebration will also focus on liberation through financial justice and literacy.
“We want to get to a better place, not only just as individuals, but we want to get to a better place for the culture,” Robinson said. “That’s imperative for us for survival in this country.”
Robinson said it is important Blacks in this country are committed to overcoming oppression, discrimination and all devices that have been imposed on Black people all around the world.
“We have to have financial backing. We have to have methods where we are utilizing our dollars and resources and correcting matters. We have to make sure that our people know that the power of a dollar is what drives this country.”
Robinson said the goal is to “break away from the system” so Blacks can establish our own foundations.
“It’s going to take some money to be able to do that. We do have some folks who have some standing and have access to capital. But we want to do is make sure that folks understand how to gain capital themselves and create generational wealth…”
Robinson pointed out there are a number of minority small business organizations in the city of Flint he would like to see established as staples in local neighborhoods. He would like to see Blacks not have to ask other people for grants and support because they have their own money and resources.
The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a civil rights protest, lasting 381 days, during which African Americans refused to ride city buses in Montgomery, Alabama, to protest segregated seating.
“The way that they changed the transportation system in the south was because folks had adhered to a plan that they weren’t going to spend money, dollars with the transportation system in the South, that they were going to sacrifice, if that meant walking their children to school and them walking to work and to appointments. That was how they shut the system down down south and they earned their respect.”
Robinson stressed that systems depend on the spending of Black Americans.
“If we don’t spend within those systems that keep us in a bind, then that changes the course for us. We can utilize those dollars and those cents to be able to make a difference that’s going to benefit us and put us in a different position.”
Workshops and lectures taking place in June will address matters such as how to pass down an inheritance and how to build credit up.
See a full schedule of Juneteenth events throughout Genesee County, visit https://sloanlongway.org/juneteenth/
Below two upcoming Juneteenth events are highlighted.
Monday, June 12, 2023: Financial Literacy Justice | Time: 4-7 pm
Location: Flushing Professional Suites (G-3163 Flushing Rd. Flint, MI)
Sponsor: Chase Bank & Urban Renewal
Purpose: Emphasising financial literacy by educating entrepreneurs and small businesses on best practices. We will have bankers and finance advisors delivering lectures and hosting workshops. For those interested in learning about access to capital, line of credit, financial statements, and business 101, this event is where you need to be.
Thursday, June 15, 2023: Ujamaa Market | Time: 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Location: North Flint Food Market (5402 N. Clio Rd. Flint, MI)
Sponsor: North Flint Food Market
Purpose: Celebrating the soft opening of the North Flint Food Market, “We Own It.” This monumental moment in time when the community addressed the food desert on the north side of Flint. Black economic empowerment is in order behind the mission of the food co-op. Vendors will be present, and there will be a tour of the newly built facility.
