How MetroWest organizations are celebrating Juneteenth
Juneteenth — short for June 19th — marks the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control of the state and free about 250,000 enslaved people.
Even though President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation said all enslaved people in Confederate states, “are, and henceforward, forever free” it did not work out that way. The proclamation specifically applied to areas under Confederate control, not border states or rebel areas under Union rule, which is a reason why Juneteenth came 2½ years later.
Texas was among the last states with a strong Confederate control, with many enslavers fleeing to the state as Union forces drew near. Even after Union Gen. Gordon Granger’s arrival, some slave owners did not tell their enslaved people they were freed until harvest season was over. In 1866, Texas’ newly freed people celebrated “Jubilee Day” on June 19.
“Juneteenth is kind of like the Fourth of July for Black Americans,” said Renande Loayza, a member of Families Organizing for Racial Justice at Newton North High School.
“It is imperative that all Americans, regardless of race, who enjoy the freedoms and liberties and inventions and all the great things in this country pay homage to what Black Americans contributed to this country."
Texas was the first state to recognize Juneteenth as an official holiday, in 1979. It officially became a national holiday on June 17, 2021.
A Haitian American, Loayza said she celebrates Juneteenth "because I feel as though Black Americans deserve this honor. They have done so much for this country.”
Today, the holiday is celebrated with music, community events, church services, showing support for Black businesses and other activities.
Here are how some organizations throughout MetroWest are celebrating:
Medway Marches
Medway Marches' second "Celebration of Freedom" event, there’s going to be “a lot of food, drinks, arts, music dancing… just a good celebration,” according to co-founder Marques Crosby.
The event is a collaboration between the town of Medway and Medway Community Farm. From noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, residents and visitors are invited to 50 Winthrop St. to support Black businesses and artists like 67 Degrees Brewing, Mickey Cassidy’s, five food trucks, DJ Steve Souza, drumming, breakdancing, artists and artisans and Interactive children’s art.
Admission is free.
“Seeing how African Americans take pride in that celebration, and bring some of their customs and culture to it I think is important,” Crosby said.
Medway Marches, a community organization, was formed in 2020 after George Floyd was killed during a police stop in Minneapolis. After several residents staged a protest, some people asked when the next event would be, “and we ended up just continuing on,” Crosby said.
Ashland is United
This year marks the second Juneteenth event hosted by Ashland is United at the Corner Spot, 6 Cherry St.
This year, the organization is co-hosting the event with Ashland Residents for Equity and Action (AREA). The group works on equity issues in Ashland government, schools and civic organizations, as well as highlights local businesses owned by people of color.
“We asked another organization (AREA) to join hands with us… we’re very happy that they are collaborators in this,” said Ashland is United member Rajashree Ghosh.
On Saturday, the Juneteenth flag will be raised. From noon to 2 p.m., people can shop, and see African art, music and dance. The Ashland Middle School’s Diversity Club will have a Kids Corner where children can paint symbols onto rocks that are related to the importance of Juneteenth.
Three winners of the organizations' poetry contest, for children in grades K-12, will be announced. They'll be asked to recite their poems, and receive a cash prize. Poems had to be a page long and describe what Juneteenth means to them.
More: Understanding the history behind Juneteenth
Backstage Dance Center owner Lisa Abbascia will lead a dance to the South African hit “Jerusalema,” a song that topped the charts in 2020, according to Rolling Stone magazine. A couple years ago, one country would challenge another in a dance challenge to this song, Ghosh said.
“It’s a very happy song, even if you don’t understand it — just the steps and how people have done it all over the world has been a very unifying factor,” said Ghosh.
Songs that are significant to African American culture and the civil rights movement will also be performed. “Lift Every Voice '' will be performed by Mirlande Butler, a singer, artist and member of Ashland is United. African Drum Nomads will also perform.
More: PHOTOS: Framingham Juneteenth celebration
An African barbecue will be catered for the event by AREA member Senteza Kironde’s business, Sentie’s Kitchen.
“The town has been very supportive of our event and has participated in ways that have been really meaningful to us,” Ghosh said. “(Juneteenth) is something to be shared and if there are more people who want to come in and celebrate that would be so wonderful.”
Families Organizing for Racial Justice
Families Organizing for Racial Justice at Newton North High School is hosting its second annual event on Sunday, the historical Juneteenth date.
From noon to 4 p.m. at Newton North, visitors can enjoy food, music, performances and educational pieces about key moments in the history of Black culture, and more.
In addition to the various vendors, the organization will have community partners, such as the Massachusetts Association of Haitian Parents, and the renter’s rights group U-Chan, which will share the work it does in the community. There will also be a voter registration area.
"(This is) to engage the youth and make sure we have as many people engaged in the democratic process as possible, especially as rights are being taken away to marginalized communities and specifically people of color and Black folks," Loayza said.
The event falls on Father’s Day, but those at Families encourage bringing Dad for a fun day to celebrate.
“It’s really festive, kind of like a family picnic,” said Loayza.
Having the event on Father’s Day, in a way, falls into the organization's ideals of educating parents in the community about issues of racial justice and equity to create a stronger network of support for the students.
Loayza has two daughters, one of whom, Mazie, is a sophomore at Newton North. Her children were a strong motivator for her joining the organization in 2020, she said.
“I wanted to make sure I was a voice for my daughters, who are Black in the school system, and ensure that they are being treated equitably,” Loayza said.
The organization is run by parent volunteers who work full time, and help is always needed. If you want to volunteer your time for this event, click here.
Framingham Public Library
Bring a chair and blanket and stop by Farm Pond in Framingham from 2-7 p.m. Saturday for the Framingham Public Library’s Juneteenth event. It's free, but you must RSVP by today.
“It will be a time of education, enrichment and empowerment as we commemorate a prominent moment in American history,” according to the Eventbrite’s details.
The event will include music, games, food, face-painting and a raffle.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Celebrate Juneteenth with these west of Boston organizations
