 Eight-year-old Leanese
Woods and her friend, O’Neisha Cook, 4, know all about freedom, celebration and how
to have a good time. Leanese
and O’Neisha danced, played, sang songs and ran through the park. They were free to
do as much as their parents allowed and took advantage of that freedom.
That’s what Saturday’s
afternoon Juneteenth Celebration at Kelsey Scott Park was all about — the celebration
of freedom.
“We’re out here to have
a good time,’’ said Leanese, as she danced and sang to the music that played in
the background. “It’s fun.”
Juneteenth, the oldest
African-American holiday, dates to 1865 when blacks living in Texas found out about the
Emancipation Proclamation, signed two years earlier by President Abraham Lincoln to free
the slaves. The holiday, which is celebrated like the Fourth of July and observed on June
19, emphasizes freedom, education and achievement. It also turned out to be a great day
for children.
The Rowan Area Minority Business
Association (RAMBA) sponsors the annual Juneteenth celebration to raise awareness of the
holiday and to provide a community event.
RAMBA President Louis Jefferies,
Jr. said the celebration is not only to promote awareness, but to also expose the
community to various minority businesses in the area.
“The concept of RAMBA was to
form a networking system for minority businesses in the area and to try to expose them to
the community through various activities,’’ said Jefferies, a native of Houston,
Texas. “This event not only unites the community and gives them an opportunity to
develop economic empowerment, but also introduces them to this part of our heritage and
gives them a chance to celebrate it.’’
Jefferies and Jill Birch, events
coordinator, organized much of the afternoon’s event.
Leanese attended the event with
her parents Lawrence and Yolanda Woods of Salisbury. As did O’Neisha, who came with
her mother, Vicky Isaac-Cook. Cook and the Woodses know the importance of the day-long
celebration and made sure their daughters were aware of it.
“O’Neisha is aware of
why she’s here and what’s going on,’’ said Cook, who grew up in
Buffalo, N.Y., where she was exposed to big Juneteenth celebrations. “This is a
wonderful celebration and it brings unity. It also allows us not to forget how we’ve
been blessed.’’
“Our children need to
recognize what our forefathers went through, so they can continue to celebrate the legacy
and the traditions,’’ said Yolanda Woods.
Woods and her husband, Lawrence,
were in attendance to do more than celebrate the day. They were on a mission to raise
funds for the NAACP’s Youth Council trip to Charleston. They were also helping the
local chapter of the NAACP register more African-Americans as voters, while Cook tried to
recruit more members for the organization.
Besides music and games, others
were also on hand to promote awareness not only about the holiday, but also about
community organizations and health. Chi Eta Phi nursing organization provided free blood
pressure screenings. Gospel groups and bands from all over provided entertainment for the
afternoon. And vendors exhibiting all sorts of wares and good-smelling vittles raised
funds for various causes.
Fried fish seemed to be the
delicacy of the afternoon.
William Smith, Andrew Mitchell,
James Williams, Michael Washington, Ronald Love, Elijah Summers, Floyd Kerr and Jimmy
Phillips, all from the Pride of Salisbury Elks’ Lodge #1774 with Romus Jefferies as
their Exalted Ruler, started frying fish as early as 10 a.m. to get the jump on any
competition. The men of the lodge, most dressed in purple and white T-shirts and hats
promoting their organization, emphasized the importance of the day and why they have
participated since the local event started five years ago.
“It’s important we
expose people to our organization and how we are working in the community,’’
said William Smith, as he battered fish. The lodge uses Juneteenth as one of its
fundraising events to raise funds for its summer tee-ball league as well as other
community service projects the organization sponsors.
“This day is part of our
heritage. Spanish, Mexicans, Asians and other cultures celebrate their freedom and we as
African-Americans need to be aware and celebrate ours,’’ Love chimed in.
“We would like to see more participate and make it more widespread. That’s why
it’s so good to see the kids involved.”
As Love looked out across the
lawn, he pointed to a gathering of children playing. “If we don’t expose our
children now, our history will be lost,” he said.
The Revs. Johnson and Evelyn
Asibuo allowed their 2-year-old daughter, Angel Anne, to greet those who invaded their
booths. The Asibuos helped Sampson Coleman, a Livingstone College student from Ghana, sell
authentic Nigerian and Ghanian carvings, paintings and garments to defray some of the
costs of his college tuition.
“We’re out here for a
good cause and a to celebrate a good day. This is a day of closeness and freedom. And a
day to celebrate the past, rejoice the present and show hope for the future,’’
said Johnson Asibuo as he watched his daughter, Angel greet visitors.
The youngest Asibuo met no
strangers and acknowledged the presence of everyone who passed as her father and mother
sold their exquisite wares to help a young man further his education.
“Children are the best people
to express freedom,’’ Asibuo said. “Freedom adults sometimes take for
granted.” |
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