Saturday was a great day, said Norma Avery.
Avery, a Black woman who is president of the group that puts on the annual Family & Friends Juneteenth Celebration in Topeka's Hillcrest Park, expressed happiness that day that Juneteenth on Thursday was made a national holiday.
"We're just overjoyed," she told the hundreds present early Saturday afternoon as ceremonies were held to kick off this year's 10-hour Family & Friends event.
This year's Juneteenth observance is historic, Deputy Topeka Mayor Mike Padilla, who is Hispanic, told the audience.
"This is not just an African-American holiday," he said. "This is a holiday for the entire country."
Still, Eugene Williams, a Black man who is executive director of KTWU-TV and was Saturday's master of ceremonies, stressed to those present that it "doesn't cost America a whole bunch" to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.
"There are a lot of other things that we need as Black people in this world," Williams said. "Make sure that you're vigilant, make sure that you stay on task and make sure that you work towards those types of things."
Juneteenth commemorates the events of June 19, 1865, when slaves in Galveston, Texas, learned they'd been freed by President Abraham Lincoln's Jan. 1, 1863, issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.
More: With Juneteenth now a federal holiday, Shawnee County to discuss adding holiday locally
President Joe Biden signed a bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday on Thursday after it was approved unanimously by the U.S. Senate and by a vote of 415-14 by the U.S. House of Representatives.
"My kids woke up this morning and went like, 'Mom, Happy Juneteenth!'" said Topeka City Council candidate Ariane Davis. "My kids have never done that before, so just the awareness throughout the country has really put a spotlight on Juneteenth."
Davis spoke as one of three Black candidates for council seats to take part in a panel discussion held as part of Saturday's celebration. She is running against Marcus Clark and Brett Daniel Kell for south Topeka's District 5 seat.
An audience of about 15 people watched the discussion, which was moderated by Sandra Lassiter and held inside the nearby, air-conditioned Hillcrest Community Center.
Also taking part were Gregory Bland Jr., who is running against incumbent Michael Lesser for west Topeka's District 9 seat, and Regina Platt, who is running against William Hendrix, David Johnson, Lana Kombacher and incumbent Sylvia Ortiz for East Topeka's District 3 seat.
More: Juneteenth kicks off with march around Kansas Statehouse grounds and speeches
Bland said Topeka is essentially a "segregated" community, where local government does less to benefit people living in the east and south parts of the city. He suggested city officials "demolish the divide" and work together in a manner that benefits the entire city.
Lassiter noted that Topeka's city government has been awarded $47 million through the American Rescue Plan.
She asked who would be "at the table" to represent Black and brown people as decisions are made on how that money will be used.
Platt said the $47 million could be used to ensure that "we're not leaving anyone behind" by identifying and assisting anyone who has issues.
Vendors and live music were also part of the celebration held Saturday, when the National Weather Service reported Topeka's temperature reached 95 degrees and the heat index 103 degrees.
Speakers during the early part of Saturday's event included Sherri Camp, a Black woman who is a historian and genealogist at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.
Camp, the author of a book titled "African Americans in Topeka," encouraged those present to contact her if they'd like to learn more about their ancestors.
Many of this city's early residents were former slaves, Camp said.
"They left the south and came to Kansas because Kansas represented freedom," she said.
The Link LonkJune 21, 2021 at 02:11AM
https://ift.tt/3cYJJI6
CapFed Best News: Juneteenth celebration made even sweeter by national holiday designation - The Topeka Capital-Journal
https://ift.tt/2QoXNjh
Holiday
No comments:
Post a Comment