Featured photo: DeWaun E. Robinson, Traditional Flint Juneteenth chair, holds up the Mentor Appreciation Award made possible through Freedom Schools and the Traditional Flint Juneteenth Committee/Photo provided by DeWaun E. Robinson
Written by Tanya Terry
This year marks 50 years of celebrating the Traditional Flint Juneteenth in the Flint and Genesee County community, according to DeWaun E. Robinson, Traditional Flint Juneteenth chair. Robinson said Mrs. E. Hill De Loney should be credited for introducing the concept, along with African awareness and culture to the Flint community.
Robinson said Juneteenth is about honoring our ancestors and educating our community and people about the significance of Black culture here in America.
“This year is our golden year; this is our jubilee year,” stated Robinson. “We want to impose on education and knowledge. I think that’s the key when we talk about Juneteenth and the Emancipation Proclamation and what that document meant for Black people…We must understand what our people have endured in this country…”
The Traditional Flint Juneteenth Committee also seeks to empower our youth.
“We want them to know about what Juneteenth is,” Robinson stated. “But then also we want them to take this energy and take this concept, but then build on it.”
Juneteenth became a national holiday last year.
This year, a Freedom March will kick off at 2 p.m. June 17 at the Sloan Museum, in Flint.
“We continue to feel as if we’re still in shackles and mentally in shackles. The march is dedicated towards freeing our minds while we’re freeing our bodies…”
Robinson pointed out things like Jim Crow laws have affected Blacks mentally. So, he said it’s necessary to focus on 500 years of healing.
“We want to heal from the trauma we’ve endured. If we understand epigenetics, you know that we’re still struggling with the pain and the sacrifices and the stress of our ancestors. It’s in our DNA. It’s in our blood. What we have to do is take time for atonement.”
Performances from live bands, Flint hip hop artist and poetry & spoken word presentations will be taking place throughout the Traditional Juneteenth Celebration. A Juneteenth Concert takes place from 6-9 p.m. June 19 at Riverbank Park, located at 328 Saginaw St.
Bounce houses, face painting and backyard games, such as hacky sack races and hopscotch will be available for the children. Youth activities take place at both Sloan and Max Brandon Park.
At 6 p.m. on the June 16 at the New McCree Theatre, located on Clio Road, the Freedom Fund Youth Dinner takes place. The event is led by the young people. The keynote speaker will be T.K. Thomas. Thomas graduated from Southwestern Academy with honors. Talented youth will also be performing.
The Traditional Juneteenth Celebration is made possible through sponsorships and a network of support. Besides vendor and parade registration, which ends June 11, there is no registration or cost to take part in the Juneteenth Celebration.
“We’re big on celebrating everybody else’s heritage, but when it comes down to our heritage, we should be very proud of the lineage we have. We should be super proud and grateful to be of this Black skin, because it is a badge of honor, and we are phenomenal people…I am because we are…. Juneteenth is an opportunity and a space for us to have positivity, learn about our culture, unify and love and value each other.”
For details, including a schedule, visit the Traditional Flint Juneteenth Celebration Facebook page.
