'Bringing people together': Celebrations for Juneteenth held throughout the Valley

Dozens of Queen Creek community members gathered at Desert Mountain Park on Sunday to celebrate the town's first annual Juneteenth celebration.

"Today is marking the anniversary of the June 19th celebration. It's called Juneteenth" said Laura Craft, lead community organizer. "It is the celebration of the last African Americans that were freed in the United States, June 19, 1865."

The celebration started at 10 a.m. where people gathered around the stage and rolled out lawn chairs under tree-shaded grass.

Keith Rogers, a minister based in Queen Creek, began the event with an opening prayer.

"It's a very important event, not just for African Americans but for everyone," Rogers told The Arizona Republic. "Everyone can understand African Americans, understand the history of us and what we've been through."

The event also hosted various small businesses and events like an instructor-led painting, a DJ, comedian, singers and dancers.

"Today, what I have displayed is my original paintings where I showcase the beauty within Black women, so showing off our natural hair, our curves, our complexions," said Diamin Nicole, artist and owner of Picture Pearlfect.

Nicole said that Picture Pearlfect has been in business for three years. Her booth had art prints for sale, stickers and books that's she's written and published.

"Juneteenth means to me that moment where we as Black people can come together and celebrate and rejoice and not think about what has taken place in the past but think about where we've come from and how we're destined to be," said Nicole. "It's very beautiful to see our people come together in such positive light and being able to enjoy others presence and seeing the creativity and the excellence that we exude."

Speakers at the event also went over the history of Juneteenth and read a poem by Maya Angelou, "Still I Rise."

"Because of this important date and celebration of the end of African American slavery in the United States, we want to make sure all people understand that it was a very terrible thing that happened but we do recognize that it did happen and it did end and we want to observe that date where those last people were finally free," said Craft.

Robin Benning, Queen Creek Councilmember, was also at the event to give a speech about the Juneteenth holiday.

"For me and I can only speak for myself, I can't speak for the community but... for me, it's long overdue that we celebrate the diversity that is happening in our community," said Benning. "It's so important for us to come together and celebrate differences and things that we have in common."

Benning added that the Juneteenth event helps the community build better relationships among people of different cultures and backgrounds.

"It's really important that the town doesn't do it for the community, the community built this and then said 'hey, do you guys want to be a part of it and participate?'" said Benning.

More than a dozen other Juneteenth celebrations were held throughout the Valley over the weekend.

On Saturday, African American Advisory Committee (AAAC) hosted its 9th annual celebration of Juneteenth at the Tempe History Museum. Tempe Mayor Corey Woods presented recognition and scholarships to leaders in the community, including Keith Burke.

“It is an honor to receive this award. I’m thankful for all the hard work of the AAAC and just being a part of the Tempe Black Employee Alliance,” Burke said.

Burke is the community services director for the city of Tempe. His tenure with the city spans 30 years.

Other recipients of recognition included Sergeant Ronald Elcock, city program coordinator Tameka Myers, and psychotherapist Sharli Berry.

Denzel Higiro, a South African refugee and Tempe High School graduate, was awarded a scholarship from AAAC and the Tempe Black Employee Alliance.

On February 2, 2022, Phoenix unanimously approved Juneteenth as an official city holiday. The Valley of the Sun Juneteenth celebration at Eastlake Park in Phoenix featured locally known musical performers as well as other community groups.

Jermery Jenkins, a member of the Queen Creek community, said that the event brings a sense of peace in spite of the "turmoil" in the world.

"Bringing people together in a nice, comfortable event like this is peaceful," said Jenkins. "In this country, race relations need to be better overall."

"Racial injustice needs to stop," said Jenkins. "For me, I want to be involved... stop this stuff from the '40s, '50s, and '60s and let's get into the 21st century."

Reach breaking news reporter Haleigh Kochanski at hkochanski@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @HaleighKochans.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Celebrations for Juneteenth held throughout the Valley