Featured photo: Dewaun Robinson
Dewaun Robinson, Black Lives Matter Flint chapter president, who is also the Juneteenth Celebration chair, recently reminisced on the fact The city of Flint Juneteenth parade and celebration has been going on for so long that
one year the parade was one of largest in the state of Michigan.
“Community members have been organizing a city-wide celebration for decades with or without the help of municipal
leadership,” Robinson said. “Since the National Association of Black Social Workers Flint Chapter, introduced the Juneteenth Celebration to the city of Flint in the 1970s, there has been an organizing committee.”
The committee is currently meeting at 5 p.m. every Monday. Meetings are being held virtually because of the pandemic.
“The young people, more coming aboard each year, are honoring, working, taking over the leadership and
making the committee much better each year,” Robinson said.
He noted the committee extent an invitation to the mayor and his administration to represent the city of Flint and assign representatives to become members of the longstanding original Juneteenth Celebration Committee.
The Juneteenth Committee believe in and practice Umoja (unity), according to Robinson.
He gave special thanks to for the continued love and support of Flint and Genesee County from Mrs. E Hill De Loney, who is credited with starting the celebration in Flint in the ’80s.
Robinson expressed that although he is grateful Flint is among the first in Michigan to establish the holiday as an official one according to the Michigan Municipal League, he and other committee members experience a range of emotions concerning how Juneteenth has been remembered through the years.
“We cannot express how painful it is to have the Juneteenth Celebration rediscovered after all these years. It reminds us of Columbus discovering America. It does not honor all the people, living and dead, who for all
these years made sure that our people, especially our children and other nationalities, know some of our current African American history.”
Community members are invited to become active members of the original Juneteenth Planning Committee.
Some of the activities in planning for this year include:
Educational information referencing the history of Juneteenth
Fun activities for young children & the youth.
Freedom March in the Cultural Center
The Traditional Road to Freedom Parade
Flint City Council Candidate – Meet & Greet
Information and vendors will be present.
Updates and meeting times will be provided Robinson via email flintjuneteenth810@gmail.com.
Those interested in making a contribution to Juneteenth can do so through PayPal at: paypal.me/flintjuneteenth.
