HUNTSVILLE, Ala. —
Juneteenth is starting to get national and international attention, due to the climate of social change we’re living in. But, the holiday is nothing new.
Folks in Huntsville are celebrating and hoping to introduce the holiday to those who are unfamiliar.
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For some of you, this year might've been the first time you’ve ever heard of Juneteenth. But for millions of Americans, this day has been one of deep meaning, reflection, pain and pride for over a century and a half.
Well, it’s June nineteenth -- Juneteenth -- and the Huntsville community is out to celebrate. People of all backgrounds and all ages attended to spread awareness of this American holiday.
Jhateyia Edney, Director of The Rebuild Project, says, “Black people as a collective need to pay homage to our ancestors that made it possible for us to be able to be on platforms-- to hold events like this today. ”
A Juneteenth celebration put together by The Rebuild Project has brought locals out of all ages and backgrounds.
Organizer’s say today is such an important day in history-- one that has been largely ignored by the American government.
Robyn Johnson, the Founder of The Rebuild Project, says, “July 4th-- our ‘independence day’. We were still --- we were still slaves. Simple as that.”
But, they do have hope that Juneteenth will get the recognition it deserves.
Jhateyia Edney, Director of The Rebuild Project, says, “Juneteenth will eventually become a federal holiday. So that way it’s not something that’s optional-- it’s something that’s mandated..."
Until then, locals in Huntsville are putting on a celebration of their own; a Juneteenth festival by The Rebuild Project-- and they’ve invited the whole community, no matter your race, to come out and participate.
Edney adds, “This is open to everybody. Any age, race creed. We want everyone to come and celebrate just freedom in general.”
Rows of Black owned businesses were invited to serve as vendors at today’s celebration.
We spoke with Robyn Johnson, the Founder of The Rebuild Project. Johnson says, “We’ve got to get the black businesses going and get them networking again.”
One vendor says today is an important day for him and his family.
Q. Dardin of Hustle ‘N Pop Kettle Corn, says, “Last year was actually my first time hearing about Juneteeth. That was last year and I’m 35 tears old. So I was like’ why have I never heard of this’?”
Dontinai Edmondson of Emotion Fitness says being surrounded with so much love and support is a feeling that’s unmatched. She adds, it’s especially important that health resources are made available to the community during the pandemic. Edmondson says, “We do have to work together to look at the things that we eat and the things that we do in our daily lives.”
Young people of all ages came out to celebrate. One mother of nine, and vendor, made sure to bring her family out to celebrate Juneteenth.
We spoke to Joya Porties, owner of Sun Lotus Holistic Services. Porties says, “We weren’t slaves. We were enslaved. And I want my children to know that. Because, knowing that you weren’t a slave-- you don’t come from that… It empowers you.” She adds, “There was so much more to Juneteenth than what’s talked about commercially… There were the Gullah Wars. That talks about the resistance that our people have always had to being enslaved."
Robyn Johnson of The Rebuild Project adds, “[Children] build our communities for tomorrow. We were children once, and now we’re the one’s doing this. And they will be doing it later. We have to make sure our children are secure.
For some of you , this year might've been the first time you’ve ever heard of Juneteenth. But for millions of Americans, this day has been one of deep meaning, reflection, pain and pride for over a century and a half.