“Educating, Empowering, Entertaining”
History is taught in a very special way in our country. I grew up in the schools of North Carolina and I loved my High School teacher Mr. Brown. He was a difficult teacher but there was something in him that gave us the best. To this day I am a lover of history especially American History because of his teaching. I’m always learning. Even though my experience was a great one I still missed out on some important events in the history of African Americans in this country. Juneteenth was one of them. It was not until I moved to Minnesota as Library Director of the Great River Regional Library in 2002 that I learned about Juneteenth through a group of African Americans who planned a community event at the Boys and Girls Club in St. Cloud.
“Juneteenth, “also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, and Emancipation Day– is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the United States. Originating in Galveston, Texas, it is now celebrated annually on June 19 throughout the United States, with increasing official recognition. It is commemorated on the anniversary date of the June 19, 1865, announcement of General Order No. 3 by Union Army general Gordon Granger, proclaiming freedom from slavery in Texas.”
I can’t begin to express the importance of this date and this part of history for me, and I must say also sometimes the sadness it brings to my heart and soul. I can’t by no means give you a history lesson here, but I can lead you to some Google sites and books you can ponder. There are so many more if you do a search on the internet, visit your local Public Library or Historical Society.
The General Commission on Religion and Race of the United Methodist Church (https://www.gcorr.org/) reminds us that “our Christian principles charge us to be a community of prayer and action. We are to live in the tension of piety and work. Worldwide, we continue to experience racial, ethnic, and tribal injustices that dehumanize God’s people. We are called to work towards liberation — as a spiritual and actionable practice. For this reason, the General Commission on Religion and Race invites you to participate in the Racial Justice Prayer & Action Challenge. Beginning on Juneteenth
(Sunday June 19, 2022) they will post daily prayers on social media for six weeks. They will also include weekly challenges to help you put your prayers into action (https://www.r2hub.org/racial-justice-prayer-action-challenge). Please join The Harbor District Antiracism Team in the celebration by accepting the challenge. You can do it as an individual or as a group.
The 2022 North Carolina Juneteenth Festival has the theme of “Educating, Empowering, Entertaining.” It takes place Saturday, June 18th, 2022, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Cabarrus Arena and Events Center, 4751 North Carolina 49, Concord, NC. This family-friendly festival is free to attend.
Events in the Harbor District at the writing of this article include the following (please remember to check the information locally before attending) :
- AAHFSNC JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION
- JUNE 17-18, 2022
- Located at the Leland Cultural Arts Center
- VIP Reception-Friday Evening 6-8:30 PM
- 2nd Annual Juneteenth Festival & Black Business Expo Columbus County
- Sun, Jun 19, 2022
- 01:00pm – 06:00pm
- Columbus County Agricultural Fairground, 886 Prison Camp Road, Whiteville, North Carolina
- Free
- Juneteenth Vendor Event sponsored by Live Oak Bank
- Thu, Jun 16, 7 – 10 PM
- 1741 Tiburon Dr, Wilmington, NC
- The Bigg Father’s Day Gospel Brunch with Bigg B; Juneteenth edition
- Sun, Jun 19, 2022
- 1:00am – 03:00pm
- 20 N 4th St, 20 North 4th Street, Wilmington, North Carolina
“Sometimes we make religion much too complicated. Christianity, at bottom, is the simplest religion that ever existed: Love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Keep following, keep praying, keep loving. If we do these three things, and persist in doing them, day after day, week after week, whether we feel like it or not, then one day we shall find suddenly that the mist of history and personal doubt will have vanished. We will become aware of the presence, radiant and strong and real.”
-N. Gordon Cosby, Seized by the Power of a Great Affection, p. 93
Submitted by Bescye P. Burnett
