'It's an American holiday': North Jersey events celebrate freedom on Juneteenth

In the Black community, Juneteenth has long been a day of backyard barbecues, gathering and remembering. But two years after it became a state holiday and a year after it was named a federal holiday, the celebrations have expanded throughout North Jersey.

Juneteenth NJ, which began as free picnics in Liberty State Park in 2020 and 2021, was held at the American Dream mall on Sunday and attended by more than 10,000 people.

The nine-hour ticketed event featured eight live bands and performers, Black-owned food trucks and vendors, and a large turf area for picnicking.

Co-founders Jola Babalola, Isaiah Thomas and Stevens Germain said people came from all over the country and as far away as Canada and Trinidad to attend.

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Juneteenth NJ started out as a way for people to blow off steam during the pandemic and "a year of police brutality and injustice," Germain said. "We needed somewhere to celebrate safely and happily."

Sunday's event was the last of three Juneteenth celebrations over the weekend, put on in conjunction with the co-founders' Hug-the-Block Foundation, based in Paterson. On Friday they hosted a Juneteenth block party on Halsey Street in Newark and on Saturday a networking event at Mana Contemporary art gallery in Jersey City.

Danielle Harvins of Newark, owner of Genevieve's Garden Candle Company, said her family always observed Juneteenth and would talk about their family history, and Black history, during their cookouts. "Juneteenth is when we were really free," she said.

Harvins' family is named after the slaveowners of Harvins Plantation in South Carolina. Her ancestors took over the plantation after the Civil War, but the origin of her family name rankled her when she was younger. "Once you free yourself from the thought that you are forever connected to slavery because of your last name, it's very liberating," she said. 

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Germain said the success of Juneteenth NJ has been "super-humbling."

"We went from 5,000 people with no infrastructure the first year to a place where everyone can celebrate their culture, their talent, their joy," Germain said. "We just wanted to provide a place for Black people to celebrate safely and be themselves unapologetically and I think we've done a pretty good job."

The atmosphere was similar on Saturday, when several hundred people gathered at Garret Mountain Reservation in Woodland Park for live music, art, games and Black-owned business and food vendors sponsored by the Friends of Passaic County Parks and the Passaic County Board of Commissioners.

It was the second annual Juneteenth Freedom Day Event there.

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Passaic County Commissioner T.J. Best said the boathouse area was selected because it has a "family feel" and "we felt it was the perfect location to come together for family celebrations around the Juneteenth holiday."

"Juneteenth is a new holiday that's being officially recognized by the county. We wanted to make sure we took part in celebrating," he said.

Four live bands played, including Rekestra and Alex Parchment, the legendary jazz performer from Paterson.

Terence Cobb brought his granddaughter Sinni to enjoy the festivities, which included a bouncy house for kids, food trucks, art classes and vendors. He said they had a great time listening to the music and having a ribs lunch.

While celebrating Juneteenth is nothing new for Black people, Best said, now that it's an official holiday, it gives government a chance to participate as well.

"This is a not a Black holiday, this is not an African American holiday, it's an American holiday," he said. "It's important that everyone, no matter what your background is, take part."

Julia Martin is the 2021 recipient of the New Jersey Society for Professional Journalists' David Carr award for her coverage of Montclair for NorthJersey.com.

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Email: jmartin@gannettnj.com

Twitter: @TheWriteJulia 

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Juneteenth NJ: Celebrations in North Jersey commemorate freedom