Juneteenth celebrates heritage, offers educational opportunity

The African American community in Poplar Bluff came together Saturday afternoon to celebrate and educate others on its heritage.

The celebration was held in observance of Juneteenth and included special music and readings, as well as food and activities. The day ended with a fireworks display.

“Juneteenth is actually a celebration of freeing of the slaves,” said Nicki Johnson, one of the organizers of the Concerned Mothers Coalition. “It’s something we do yearly.

“It’s about the community coming together and celebrating. We’re just celebrating; it’s our Independence Day.”

Johnson described the event as a “family fun day,” where everyone was welcome.

Sandra Taylor listens to the music under the pavilion at Wheatley Park during Saturday’s Juneteenth celebration. DAR/Michelle Friedrich

Juneteenth, Johnson said, is usually just a program, but this year organizers decided to expand the event.

The program featured Darrell Nelson singing “Lift Every Voice” and “Jesus is Love,” Celina McCain reading “

“Phenomenal Woman” by Mayo Angela and Whitney Turner reading “We Rose,” the official Juneteenth poem.

Johnson said there was a voter registration booth, a sign up for the NAACP and information about the Medicaid expansion, which is coming up.

“That’s what we are doing it for, for the community and everyone coming together,” Johnson said.

Juneteenth, according to Sandra Taylor, is a “very special event not only for African Americans, but people all around the world celebrating freedom.”

Juneteenth gives “the children an opportunity to be out and celebrate … because … some generations don’t even know anything about slavery or when they were freed in 1864,” Taylor said. “It’s about education and sharing our history and passing it on the next generation.”

Kim McCain Youngblood agreed.

“I think (the celebration) is a great thing,” Youngblood said. “I think our community needs it.

“They need to be educated on our history; a lot of them don’t know about Juneteenth.”

Anything that is going to “educate us, so that we can pass this on to our kids and grandkids” is good, Youngblood said.

Accompanying Youngblood were her grandsons, Kingston McCain, 3, and Kendric McCain, 4.

“They are having a great time,” Youngblood said. “I explained it to them before was came out exactly what it’s all about.”

Youngblood said she told her grandsons it was not just a time to play.

Poplar Bluff Police Chief Danny Whiteley (center) and Lt. Joe Ward (second from left) visit with members of the African American community during Saturday’s Juneteenth celebration. DAR/Michelle

“It’s something that relates to our history,” Youngblood said. “I told them this is when we got our freedom.

“Juneteenth ... that is when we got our freedom.”

Michael Richie described Juneteenth as a “memorable thing.”

The African American heritage, he said, “gives everyone a sense of identity with everything that’s going on now.

“It brings people together, not only Black people, but everybody. It’s a community thing. Nobody is alienated or discriminated against.”

Juneteenth, Taylor said, also is about fellowship.

For Natasha Clay, the celebration is about “trying to bring everybody together.”

In organizing the event, Clay said, she, Johnson and Neshia Hill are here to “support change; we want change in the community. What better way than bringing everybody together for a good cause over food and good times.

“… Hopefully, in the future we can get more change within the community.”