Featured photo: A group, which included members of the Traditional “Flint Juneteenth” Committee stand together after the Healing Circle, one of many recent Juneteenth activities. Photo by Tanya Terry.
Written by L. M. Land with Tanya Terry
Photos by L. M. Land and Tanya Terry
The 51st Juneteenth Celebration in Flint was so full of events and sponsors that it would have been impossible to attend them all! All ages were welcome to events like fireworks, parades, festivals, shopping, a healing circle, music, dinners and more. It was a beautiful celebration of the vibrant Black culture in Flint, Michigan.
The Traditional Flint Juneteenth Celebration partnered with the Sloan Museum for the third year to create a unique experience for local residents and visitors as well. DeWaun Robinson chairs the Traditional Flint Juneteenth Celebration committee, and Jerome Threlkeld is Sloan’s Community Engagement Coordinator. Over 50 years ago, Dr. E Hill DeLoney started the celebration in Flint along with the National Association of Black Social Workers Flint Chapter.
Dr. De Loney was impressed by the great deal of interest shown by various generations of people in the numerous Juneteenth events this year.
Dr. De Loney said this year she helped educate the community about Juneteenth during the numerous events, including the parade. She said she had done so in small groups before, but never, in over 50 years, as she did this year!
She pointed out that previously enslaved Africans who received freedom said: “Until all of us are free, none of us are going to be free.”
Although free Africans had been free for 2 ½ years, they wouldn’t celebrate until everyone was free.
“That’s what our whole Juneteenth purpose it-to get people to know we are one,” stated De Loney. “We’ve got to stop killing and hurting each other.”
This year, Juneteenth was celebrated in Flint from June 9-19, with something for everyone!
The Afrikan Culture Education Development Center presented their 27th Annual Freedom School Awards Dinner on June 16 at the Sloan Museum.
The theme was Youth Power, and they took it to heart. Jaylon Terry, 17, was the guest speaker. Terry volunteers in Genesee County, which has included passing out water during the water crisis. He is part of the Freedom School, a Gamma Delta Kudo for four years and played football for Hamady. He explained that he is motivated by family.
“I was a shy person at one point, and without my grandmother, mom and friends I would not be speaking up here today.”
The McCree Theatre Children’s Choir sang the Black Anthem and several other song. The children were directed by Glenn Holcomb. Phillip Young played the keyboard, and Baba Ponti played drums.
Honored were those who have been supporters of health initiatives in the Flint community that are inclusive and reflect an understanding of the racial inequities and health disparities: Suzanne Cupal, Kay Dorr, Dr. Suzanne Selig, PhD, Dr. Robert Bobby, and posthumously, Toby Citrin.
On June 18, many gathered for a Healing Circle at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Garden, at MLK & McClellan.
Social worker/life coach and self-care guru Dr. Tiffany Quinn stated the goal of the Healing Circle was not only to raise awareness about Juneteenth as a federal holiday, but also to bring healing to the community. The healing was offered through yoga, meditation, prayer, storytelling, positive affirmations, singing bowls and spiritual messages from local pastors.
Tara Moreno-Wallen, founder and executive director of Serenity House Communities, shared a singing bowl meditation with the community, along with Serenity House Recovery Coach Kim Zingler.
“We set the intention for the event and to help bring oneness and healing through individuals, families and communities,” said Moreno-Wallen.
She said healing was important in Flint, as a predominantly Black community, where many people have endured trauma.
Community Ambassador DaChelle McDonald said in her family there was “turmoil. “She described the turmoil as including physical abuse and specifically some darker-skinned family members hating themselves.
“As I got older and I experienced love, I thought ‘why don’t people do this more?’” McDonald explained.
She said her favorite part of the Healing Circle was hearing about the importance of loving ourselves from De Loney.
At the Healing Circle, Marji Marketa sang a song she wrote called “Hold on To Love.” Although she had participated in prayer chains for years, she said the recent event allowed her to have a first-time experience in a healing circle.
Marketa said it so peaceful she fell asleep, and singing there was ‘beautiful.’ She also said the highlight of her day was when she witnessed her grandchild, who was affected by the Water Crisis and diagnosed with ADHD, do meditation and yoga without getting distracted.
A disappointment was when Mayor Neeley’s office shut down the re-painting and re-dedication of the Black Lives Matter mural painted directly on the road on MLK Blvd in front of The Local Grocer. Organizers had been working with the city for two months prior to the event, yet it was canceled a couple of days before without a clear reason. The mayor’s office did not respond to several requests from the Courier for their statement on the matter by press time.
Several families were there to paint and all were disappointed.
“We were excited to come out and bring our kids, and we are disappointed they couldn’t [paint] it,” said Camishea Bell. “We were on the original paint team in 2020.”
Bell’s daughter, Ava Bell, 7, remembers painting the mural. She recalls that: “It felt good to paint.”
She said it made her sad.
“I wanted to do it,” she explained.
Oddly, there were two police officers parked and watching the mural for several days. Those who were in attendance decided the police were there perhaps to protect the road. All of the paint and festivities for the location were canceled, and there was nothing for the police to watch.
Robinson felt that the City of Flint “should be unified for Juneteenth.”
“We’re looking for true liberation,” Robinson stated. “It won’t happen ‘till we all come together to resolve and find solutions. We are going to stand strong and are dedicated. The mission is inside us.”
The Black Lives Matter, Flint Chapter, will be looking for a different venue for the mural.
Bounce houses, vendors, musicians and more were at Max Brandon Park on June 19. Gwen Pennyman-Hemphill and Jowanne Carrigan were two of the performers. Between musicians, there was line dancing. Sandra Branch, chair of the Flint Art Project, had art supplies on hand for visitors to make posters for the parade.
“It’s important to keep our history alive,” said Frances Gilcreast of the Flint Branch NAACP, who was at Max Brandon encouraging voting.
“We didn’t just come from slavery; we came from kings and queens,” stated Rev. Freelon Threlkeld, who also was there.
Isaiah M. Oliver, president and CEO of Community Foundation of Greater Flint, brought his children to Max Brandon to enjoy themselves and help build upon the knowledge he shared with them on the importance of Juneteenth at home.
The parade began at Max Brandon Park and walked to downtown Flint.
Jonathan Woods came from Ann Arbor to enjoy the festivities. He also attended Juneteenth celebrations in Detroit and Ann Arbor. He liked that Flint had such a big celebration and that Flint recognized Juneteenth, when other areas haven’t.
“I really enjoyed the kids, the marching band, that was really nice,” he said. “It’s nice that the adults are bringing the kids along to learn about Juneteenth. I didn’t learn about Juneteenth until I was an adult.”
Downtown in Brush Park there were vendors, food trucks and a DJ. Hundreds of people came to enjoy the festivities there!
Fireworks from Chevy Commons sponsored by the City of Flint and the Flint Downtown Development Authority concluded the festivities for this year. It was a week of great and meaningful celebrations!
