How and where to celebrate Juneteenth in South Jersey
This year marks the 157th celebration of Juneteenth and its second year as a federal holiday.
But, despite recent attention to marking and honoring the true ending of slavery across the United States, a recent study by Gallup foundt more than a quarter of Americans know nothing about Juneteenth.
Here's what you need to know:
Juneteenth, a blending of the words June and nineteenth, is an annual commemoration of when the last slaves in Galveston, Texas were told of their freedom on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the issuance of the1863 Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln.
Linda Shockley, president of the Lawnside Historical Society, which hosts an annual fundraiser event celebrating Juneteenth, shares that despite festivities surrounding the holiday in recent years, its origins are still misunderstood by the general public.
"When you talk about making Juneteenth a celebration throughout the nation, very few people understood the origins of it or understood that people in Texas had not been informed of the Emancipation Proclamation," Shockley said.
Enslaved people in the South had been deprived the ability to learn how to read and write, denied access to information and the ability to share it in addition slave camps having no incentive to tell enslaved people they'd been freed by executive order.
General Gordon Granger appointed to command the department of Texas immediately after the state's surrender to Union forces, traveled with his troops to Galveston and delivered his famous General Order No. 3 on June 19, 1865.
However, this didn't equate to instant liberation for slaves in the South.
"The free were advised to remain at their present homes and work for wages," Shockley said. "So they're basically being told stay where you are at your present homes which we know were on these plantations."
Those who did try to act on the news were commonly met with violence.
Even after Juneteenth, state archives recognize there were still slaves in New Jersey. Shockley points to the Gradual Abolition of Slavery law of 1804.
"They set up Gradual Abolition in 1804 so that from on July 4, 1804 onward you were considered born free but indentured to the slaver of their parents until they were of 21 years. That meant that 21 years and at at the time the life expectancy was 47 or something you could relatively spend half of your life as an enslaved person," Shockley said.
In the state, slavery wasn't abolished until the 13th Amendment was ratified in December of 1865 making New Jersey the last of the Northern states to have people that were still enslaved.
Although one may not consider this to be the typical reason to celebrate, the newly freed Black men and women in Texas along with the Freedmen's Bureau had a date to organize around.
"Their citizenship was still very much limited but people had to be happy about the end of the Civil War and the end of slavery, and what looked on its face like freedom and equality," Shockley explained.
Following 1865, the Freedmen in Texas organized the first Jubilee Day on June 19. Even after decades have passed, Juneteenth traditions such as prayers and singing spirituals and having outdoor social gatherings with staple cuisine including barbeque and red velvet cake symbolizing the bloodshed of slaves still remain today.
"There were religious ceremonies; clearly, people were thankful to God," said Shockley. "People had picnics, people dressed up in their finest clothing — because enslaved peoples often wore rags and no shoes — and they gathered to celebrate."
Now we see companies and retailers join in on Juneteenth. But Kim Crowder, founder and CEO of Crowder Consulting, an anti-racism, diversity equity and inclusion consulting firm, shares why its problematic for companies to try to commodify the holiday.
"It's not surprising but it's also unfortunate that companies see it that way, as a way to make money instead of seeing it as a way to move forward the liberation of folks who are descendants of enslaved folks."
As organizations look to celebrate Juneteenth, Crowder says companies should be looking to partner with Black businesses and creatives so that they financially benefit from Juneteenth focused-products.
"What communities are they building into, looking into their vendors, are you putting money intentionally into vendors who are Black-owned and not just the businesses that come up every time but specifically using businesses that they haven't worked with," Crowder.
Crowder also recommends companies reflect on their hiring practices.
"Are they creating pipelines for people to not only be successful but to thrive in their businesses and make sure Black folks have not only have a position but have power," Crowder said.
Lastly, Crowder simply says let people celebrate Juneteenth how they want to.
"Give people the day off to celebrate how they want to," Crowder said. "There's no reason to try to dictate, particularly how Black folks celebrate. If Black people want to stay in bed all day that's a celebration; if Black folks want to have a cookout that's a celebration. But you can encourage team members, particularly those who aren't from historically ignored backgrounds or who aren't Black to do their research at home and self evaluate how they themselves are making space to liberate those groups."
Looking to celebrate Juneteenth in South Jersey? Here's a list of some events over the next several days.
More: Did you know South Jersey had dozens of stops on the Underground Railroad?
Camden County:
Cherry Hill African American Civic Association Juneteenth festival and parade:
Saturday, June 18, in conjunction with Cherry Hill Township and the Cherry Hill Police Department, at Crofton Farms, 100 Bortons Mill Road, Cherry Hill. Parade starts at 10 a.m. and festival ends at 5 p.m.
Contact tina.truitt@chaaca.org or cathy.jenkins@chaaca.org for questions and inquires.
Winslow Township Juneteenth festival:
Sunday, June 19th, from 2 to 8 p.m. in New Brooklyn Park, 100 Erial Road, Sicklerville.
For more information visit https://winslowjuneteenth.weebly.com/.
City of Camden Juneteenth Celebration motorcade and festival:
Saturday, June 18, at Wiggins Park, Camden. The celebration kicks off with a motorcade starting at 1 p.m. at Dare Academy, 1656 Kaighn Avenue, followed by a festival from 2 to 7 p.m. and concert with a special performance by Jeff Bradshaw.
Camden African-American Commission, Inc.:
Sunday, June 19, at Farnham Park from noon to 8 p.m. The concert starts at noon with a slave marker liberation and ceremony at Front and Cooper followed by a liberation march at the Camden High football field at 2 p.m. Entertainment will be at Farnham Park from 3 to 8 p.m.
For more information call 856-236-4489 or email mangaliso143@gmail.com. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets.
Lawnside Juneteenth 5K/1mile walk run:
Saturday, June 18 starting at 8 a.m. at 323 E Charleston Avenue. Funds will go to raise awareness of health disparities in the Black community and improve the public park. After-race events to feature speakers, vendors, and food trucks.
To pre-register or volunteer visit https://runsignup.com/lawnsidejuneteenth5k. Donations can be made at https://runsignup.com/Race/Donate/NJ/Lawnside/Lawnside5K
More: Preservation of Black burial grounds could uncover hundreds of unmarked graves
Cumberland County:
Cumberland Minority Leadership and Recruitment Committee Freedom Ride and Walk:
Friday, June 17, starting at 5 p.m. Bikers and walkers will meet at the Bridgeton High School parking lot at 4:30 p.m. and begin a 3-mile freedom parade through the path of Harriet Tubman, ending at the Bridgeton amphitheater at Sunset Lake with festivities, vendors and refreshments from 6 to 7 p.m.
To register visit bit.ly/cccea-Juneteenth2022.
Tri City H.O.P.E Seventh Annual Juneteenth Freedom Day:
Saturday, June 18, at Landis Park, 600 E. Park Avenue, Vineland. The event will include music, vendors, entertainment, food and amateur boxing beginning at noon.
For more information contact Jerry Young at 856-369-5843 or Terry Gould at 856-332-4488.
Burlington County:
Gonzo Glass Studio Juneteenth Celebration:
Sunday, June 19, 1 to 5 p.m. at Gonzo Glass Studio, 32 Mill Street, Mount Holly. Local artist Elizabeth Kirby is hosting her first live show since the pandemic.
Evesham Township Juneteenth Celebration:
Saturday, June 18, at Savich Field, 510 E. Main Street, Marlton, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will feature music, food, vendors, speakers, performances.
Vendor applications can be submitted at https://lf.evesham-nj.gov/Forms/vendorapp. Contact casellad@evesham-nj.gov or sayhello@deon4change for more information.
Mount Holly Township and Rancocas Valley Regional High School Juneteenth Celebration:
Friday, June 17, at Rancocas Valley Regional High School, 520 Jacksonville Road, Mount Holly, from 2 to 6 p.m. Enjoy live music, food, entertainment, and games featuring Black-owned businesses, food trucks, and bounce houses.
Willingboro Juneteenth Festival:
Saturday, June 18, at Millcreek Park from noon to 4 p.m. The freedom trail walk provides an emotional perspective into Black people’s enslaved experience. The event features Troupe Da Da, an African drum and dance ensemble, and a spoken word performance by Honeycomb Poetics as well as vendors and food trucks. Children's activities include face painting, moon bounces, and other offerings.
Burlington Freedom Day 2022 A Juneteenth Celebration:
Saturday, June 18, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 19 at the Riverfront Promenade on Burlington City's beautiful waterfront. Hosted by the CHAI Community Development Corporation, the two-day event features music, food, vendors, and a kids' zone that includes free lunch as well as crafts, games, activities, and bounce houses. The celebration will close out with a "Praise on the Promenade: A Gospel Music Celebration" on Sunday.
Moorestown Celebration of Juneteenth:
Saturday, June 18 at Perkins Center for the Arts, 395 Kings Highway from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The celebration will feature live music, performances, food and vendors. All ages are welcome.
Gloucester County
Black and Brilliant Juneteenth Community Celebration:
Saturday, June 18, at Glassboro Sports Complex, 230 Wilmer Street Glassboro, from 1 to 7:30 p.m. The community celebration event co-sponsored by Rowan University’s Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, includes live, dance, poetry and more.
Attendees and vendors can register at www.juneteenthglassboro.eventbrite.com. For general contact or questions please email blacknbrilliant.events@gmail.com
Juneteenth Celebration at Fasola Park:
Saturday, June 18, at Fasola Park, 12 Sycamore Lane, Deptford, from noon to 4 p.m. The Gloucester County NAACP and Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office present the third annual Juneteenth Celebration with live music, African dancers, food, vendors, and a kid's corner.
For vendor information contact gcnjnaacp@gmail.com.
Woodbury Juneteenth:
Saturday, June 25, Bethlehem Baptist Church, 414 Mantua Pike, Woodbury, 2 p.m.The Juneteenth program features African American spirituals, narratives and poetry.
The Historical and Educational Lodge-Hall Hall Preservatory Inc. (H.E.L.P. Inc.) Juneteenth Celebration:
Saturday, June 18, at Kingsway High School, 201 Kings Highway, Woolwich Township, from noon to 4 p.m. This free event will feature food, vendors, dancers and tours of underground railroad sites.
Nicolette White is the Diversity and Inclusion reporter for the Burlington County Times, The Daily Journal and Courier-Post. She is a Temple University graduate with Dallas, Texas roots. Send tips to nwhite@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @nicolettejwhite.Please support local journalism with a digital subscription.
This article originally appeared on Burlington County Times: Where to find Juneteenth celebrations in South Jersey
