“Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.” – Fannie Lou Hamer
Written by L.M. Land, with photo by L.M. Land
Considered the “longest-running African-American holiday,” Juneteenth has been called “America’s second Independence Day.” In 2021, Juneteenth became the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was adopted in 1983.
Mrs. E. Hill De Loney introduced Juneteenth and Kwanzaa to the Flint community 51 years ago and began the Traditional Flint Juneteenth Celebration. Local activist DeWaun Robinson is the current chair. The Sloan Museum has partnered with this committee to provide a week of special community events.
The theme this year is celebration, liberation, education and building on unity. Events were designed to address these themes including dances, BBQ, parades and financial literacy justice workshops. Supporting community efforts and developing cultural awareness are important goals as well.
Robinson has taken these goals to heart. He is president of Black Lives Matter Flint, as well director of the Rites of Passage Program, president of Artistic Visions Enterprises and an educator at the Flint Cultural Center Academy. He also organizes the Spotlight Arts and Culture Event every month, featuring entertainment and education in the Black community.
Robinson feels financial literacy is critical to improving Black lives and creating equality, which is why financial literacy classes are featured.
Robinson said, “This community is going through transitions. It gives us an opportunity to learn from history as we create this robust community for the future. It is time.”
Robinson explained the economics. For example, there are three people are in a room. “You have $100. Two people have $1. Who has the most power?”
“Who wants to give up the power once they have it?” he continued. “No one. Folks who benefit from the lifestyle are accustomed to that life style.”
Without financial literacy, Blacks cannot join in and equalize the power structure in our country. Financial literacy is the “opportunity to change life deeply as we know it,” Robinson explained.
“Unless we change existing systems, we cannot get ahead in this unless we have the finances to do so,” continued Robinson. “This is how we can build up the community. Our affairs have to be in order, our money, our schools. We have to change policy in government. The game is [currently] one-sided.”
Full liberation is still an elusive goal 160 years after the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863.
“Liberation is a strong word. And reparation. We need to recreate history and address the issues that won’t go away in this country.”
“Black history is American history.”
An example of this is the fact that almost 200,000 black soldiers and sailors fought for the Union and freedom in the Civil War. All Americans need to hear these stories.
Robinson said: “It is up to us to lay the foundation for our younger generation to understand what Juneteenth means for all in America.”
