Augustans were decked out in red, green and yellow while attending a Juneteenth festival held in the James Brown Arena parking lot on Wednesday, June 19.
Juneteenth – a yearly recognized holiday to commemorate the end of slavery in the U.S. following the Civil War – was declared a holiday in 2021 by President Joe Biden to remember all enslaved people in the nation being freed in 1865.
Although enslaved people were first officially declared free in 1862, via Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, those in Galveston Bay, Texas continued to use slaves until 2,000 union troops arrived to enforce freedom on June 19, 1865.
In observance of the momentous occasion, hundreds of locals flocked to Downtown Augusta in the beaming sun to celebrate freedom and African-American history by attending the city’s eighth annual Juneteenth festival to enjoy vendors, food, performances and more.
While some happily consumed cold drinks and delicious food, others delighted listening to passionate singers, poets and watching dancers showcase their African heritage.
For attendee Patricia Yates gathering on Juneteenth is significant, because it allows Americans to remember their history and those who lived before.
“In the past our history has been watered down, so it’s important for the younger generation to understand Juneteenth,” she said. “It’s a celebration of our history.”
Loving every aspect of the celebration, Yates said she was especially impressed seeing younger participants dance and sing on the outdoor venue’s stage.
With Creative Impressions, a choir for those ages 8-18, performing a mix of “negro-spiritual and African songs,” Artistic Director Trey McLaughlin said he wanted his organization to participate in the day to expose onlookers to the amazing influence of past African Americans.
“I think it’s important with the type of music that we do to show people that there’s a rich heritage even in struggle and – even in overcoming struggle – music has been an integral part of it,” he said. “I think it also shows the influence that our music and our sound has on pop culture today.”
Most importantly, McLaughlin said he wanted audiences to musically experience unity and “the power of overcoming.”
McLaughlin also said the event gave him the opportunity to encourage choir members to learn more about their community through experiencing a festival they might not have otherwise explored.
“I want them to remember that even though it might seem far removed from them it’s not,” he said. “It affects them directly, and it’s all right to celebrate something that was a dark past but is now liberating, because knowledge is freedom.”
With dozens of vendors selling accessories, clothing, art and countless other goods, many small business owners also memorialized Juneteenth by selling themed memorabilia to passersby.
Attending local artist Baruti Tucker, known for co-owning Humanitree House, said he wanted to showcase his painting skills at the festival to highlight that freedom is about cultivating beauty, culture and unity.
“This is always my contribution to the community … and freedom is about expression,” he said. “The focus is how humanity found its way to be what it’s supposed to be today.”
Creating an image inspired by the fluidity of freedom and people’s African heritage, Tucker said he hoped every onlooker got a sense of pride from his creation as he strived to capture a small piece of Juneteenth’s significance.
“The community should celebrate together because [Juneteenth] is an American issue … and we’re all a part of American history,” he said.
As her son received a free blood pressure check at the festival, courtesy of Piedmont Hospital, attending mother and volunteer Harriet Evans said she believed children needed to learn about Juneteenth because it was important for others to know about historical events that happened prior to one’s birth.
“This is kind of an opportunity for them to understand the progress that we have made, even though we still have a long way to go, but it’s definitely progress from what it used to be,” she said.
Most of all, to Evans, Juneteenth simply means freedom for all and the emancipation of slavery.
“It’s just about that independence,” she said.
