Written by Tanya Terry
Featured photo: Participants in the June 9 Juneteenth Healing Circle gather together to show their appreciation for each other after expressing their faith in healing for the Flint community.
The Traditional Flint Juneteenth Celebration has been taking place since May 31 and will continue until June 22. The celebration’s organizers hope the events and activities held, as well as the sense of community felt at and during them, will be remembered by and impact Flint residents and visitors throughout their lives and for generations to come.
Marlene Smith, COO of the South Side City of Hope Organization, explained the importance of the organization helping to organize the “Heritage and Legacy of the Flint Community” event, which took place June 6 at the Brennan Center.
“South Side City of Hope has been part of the Juneteenth Committee or Celebration for two years now,” Smith said. “So, when we realized that Dr. E Hill De Loney, who is the founder of the Traditional Flint Juneteenth Celebration, who is my aunt, or the trailblazer, we thought it was important for us to be a part of it. Also, we love the Flint southside community. So, we’re glad to give back to the community.”
Smith said many members of the South Side City of Hope Organization grew up in the area. Smith also said she did not know that her aunt had been such a huge part of the Traditional Flint Juneteenth Celebration for years. She called this “bittersweet,” but added she felt it was necessary to keep her aunt’s legacy alive.
The “Heritage and Legacy of the Flint Community” event featured a Black history display of local legends, . spoken word performances by Mama Sol, an “Afro-fusion” fashion show and music by a live band.
Smith shared that her grandchildren, who are De Loney’s grandnephew Bary Wicks and grandniece Nadia Wicks, were the singers who helped honor De Loney during a presentation honoring her as the “mother” of Flint Juneteenth.
“They sang ‘Stand Up’ by Cynthia Erivo, and that is one of our freedom songs, that is really near and dear to the African American culture,” said Smith.
She added that Bary Wicks also played the keyboard.
The “Juneteenth Kickoff” took place on June 7 at Hasselbring Park and consisted of food, dancing, bounce houses and video game tents for the kids and tables from which community members could access valuable resources for their health and well being. The event was made possible by GenWEL United.
Edward Johnson, founder and chair of GenWEL United, shared that his organization’s mission is to “serve the underserved and to make people whole in the spaces that they function in.”
“Especially since the George Floyd killing, we’ve seen a lot of destitute people, a lot of people that were seeking answers,” Johnson said. “That’s when we were founded in 2020-because we were all hurting and we were trying to find a way forward without making rash decisions and errors of judgement too quickly about how things need to be. So, we got a bunch of guys together and we talked about how we can fix the communities that we exist in.”
Since 2020, GenWel United has aimed to rebuild communities from the inside.
DeWaun E. Robinson, Traditional Flint Juneteenth Chair, talked about events such as the June 14 Harambee Breakfast, held at the Higher Quality of Life Ministries Vision Center, on N. Saginaw St. The purpose of the pancake and sausage breakfast was for community members to continue “pulling together.”
Also, on Wednesday June 18, a Financial Literacy Justice event takes place from 4-7 p.m. at Flushing Professional Suites (G-3163 Flushing Rd, Flint, MI)
“The point and purpose is celebrating 160 years of Black liberation,” said Robinson. “We are looking forward to the next 400 years. That is determined by what we do today. We really take hold of the concepts we learn during Juneteenth. We really listen what our ancestors gave us back in the day. We apply ourselves, with the young people moving in the future, and we’re goin’ be alright.”
For a complete Flint Traditional Juneteenth schedule of events, visit https://sloanlongway.org/events/juneteenth/
