Happy Juneteenth y’all! Every year, Rootead goes all out to celebrate one of the most meaningful days of the year for Black Americans, and America in general, Juneteenth. 2023 was no exception! But before we get into this year’s festivities, let’s talk about Juneteenth itself and why it holds so much significance.
Juneteenth History
Juneteenth is a combination of the words June and nineteenth. On June 19, 1865, the last group of enslaved Black people in the U.S. learned they were free due to the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, which occurred two and a half years prior. This date essentially marks the end of slavery in the United States of America.
When did Juneteenth become a national holiday?
On the federal level, it took a long time before Juneteenth was formally recognized. Finally, on June 17 of 2021, President Joe Biden signed a bill designating Juneteenth as a national holiday. The momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement and related protests spurred on the signing of this bill into law.
Significance of Juneteenth
With the accurate telling of Black history being protested even today, it’s more important than ever to celebrate Juneteenth. Juneteenth is an acknowledgement of the hard-won freedom from the horrors of slavery in the United States. Recognizing this holiday sets the record straight on American history – the fact that the fourth of July did not grant freedom to everyone, that it took several years for the news of the Emancipation Proclamation to reach across the country and free all enslaved peoples, and that Black Americans have enriched American culture despite continued oppression. Juneteenth is a reminder of the perseverance and bravery of Black folx in this country.
Juneteenth is also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. The day represents liberation, accessibility, and possibility. Black and brown folx can come together to create joy and a community of respite. With it being so close to July 4, Juneteenth has taken the place of Independence Day for many Black families, giving them back ownership of their collective stories.
At Rootead
Our mission to center the experiences of Black and brown folx and create a community that offers support, hope, and healing, pairs naturally with the celebration of Juneteenth. The Kalamazoo community benefits from rejoicing around the achievements of people from all different backgrounds.
At Rootead, we never forget our roots. Our enslaved ancestors were brought to America from all across Africa. We honor their memory by bringing African culture and traditions to our modern lives and recognizing their influence on today’s Black culture and traditions.
2023: Family Reunion
Every year for our Juneteenth celebration, we choose a central theme. In 2023, we came up with “Family Reunion.” “Family Reunion” was chosen because it exemplified what we wanted the celebration to feel like. It also served as a reminder to people about the strength and resilience of their Black ancestors, connecting them to their roots and the roots they share with other people of color.
Family reunions are special for Black and brown families for a couple of reasons we want to bring to our celebration:
Uniting generations. Historically, Black and brown family members were separated from one another. With no records kept on their family history, it was difficult to reunite. Today, it’s meaningful to be able to unify people across generations and across the diaspora. We’re all brothers and sisters, aunties and cousins, mothers and sons.
Preserving cultural traditions. Part of Rootead’s mission is to bring African traditions to the Black community so that they can connect to their roots. Our ancestors had valuable wisdom that we can so greatly benefit from today.
Sharing history. Not only are we able to make memories by getting together as a community but we’re able to recount stories and keep our ancestors’ stories and memories alive.
Juneteenth Activities
The 2023 itinerary was packed! We held our celebration at Bronson Park from 3pm to 7pm. Thanks to our volunteers, it only took about an hour each to set up and take down all booths and equipment and get it to and from the Studio.
Community members had tons of options for entertainment. From playing outdoor games to interacting with live animals, no one went home bored. Tables were set up in Bronson Park for local businesses and organizations. We had performances on the stage from beginning to end. Attendees enjoyed delicious food from a local food truck. We also gave an African drum and dance tutorial to those looking to learn!
Performances
Our MC and our DJ for the event stayed on stage to entertain the audience, keep things flowing, and introduce the scheduled acts. 2023’s MC was the multi-talented MC DC, otherwise known as Dr. Kandace Lavender. Kandace runs her own company, The Teacher Cypher LLC. She is also an educator, poet, and hip hop artist. Our DJ for the night was DJ Boogie, who started his DJing career at the age of 10! DJ Boogie is now 13 years old and shows no signs of stopping.
RYDDE
The Rootead Youth Drum & Dance Ensemble (RYDDE) was our pride and joy during their performance. RYDDE is a non-competitive, pre-professional youth and dance company for ages 12 to 18 who train in the arts of the Black diaspora. The youth performances were the culmination of intensive training, learning and practicing West African drum or dance skills.
Dancers
Two area dance teams brought the energy during the Juneteenth performances, Unique Unity and Suicide Squad. Unique Unity was formed in 2020 for youth ages 6 to 16. Their dancers are super passionate and it shows. The group has become known for their unique visuals and high energy performances. Suicide Squad’s mission is to build self-confidence, harmony, sisterhood, and integrity through a love of dance. The dancers overflowed with excitement and showed everyone how liberating dancing can be.
Musicians
We were blessed in 2023 with four incredibly talented musicians/musical groups who agreed to perform for the celebration. The lineup was made up of Yolonda Lavender and the Crew, Harmony Holt as Käzmik, Anessa Hodges, and Orchestra Jamm’bolaya.
Yolonda Lavender is a mainstay on the Kalamazoo stage, bringing her soul-based sound to stages throughout the year. She is a multi-talented singer/songwriter, activist, curator, composer, arranger, and performing artist. She is signed to Truth Tone Records. Yolonda has even shared the stage with artists like Erykah Badu and En Vogue!
O.Jamm, in their own words, is “a community project comprised of a diverse group of young musicians, local artists and teachers. Collectively, the musicians envision what music elements from the African Diaspora sound like through western instruments.” They can be heard playing the works of everyone from Prince to Big Momma Thornton to their own compositions!
Anessa Hodges is a multi-instrumentalist who started in piano and has since picked up cello and electric guitar. The guitar is her latest passion, along with learning chords, lyrics, and melodies. Harmony Holt performs under the name Käzmik, with the goal of lifting spirits and letting people know that negative emotions like pain and sadness are a commonality in the world and that music can heal.
Kalamazoo Businesses and Organizations
Several local organizations and businesses had tables offering information and resources. There were a variety of vendors, including artisans selling clothing, apothecary items, foods, and more, as well as organizations like the NAACP, Kalamazoo Public Library District, and Can-Do Kalamazoo.
The Kalamazoo Nature Center even brought a live snake and turtle that kids could interact with!
You can find the whole list of vendors on our Instagram page here.
Juneteenth Resources and Beyond
Go more in-depth into Juneteenth’s history and its impact and celebration today with these resources.
The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth via The National Museum of African American History and Culture
A Proclamation on Juneteenth Day of Observance, 2021 via The White House
Juneteenth: Black & Thriving via the NAACP
The Long History of Our New Federal Holiday: Juneteenth via United States Capitol Historical SocietyA beginner’s guide to Juneteenth: How can all Americans celebrate? via The Associated Press
Black Liberation in the Kalamazoo Community
Kalamazoo is home to many organizations and businesses who promote Black liberation and equity. Rootead believes that to truly foster community, we must show our support for one another and lift up our Black and brown brothers and sisters. Check out some of our faves:
Care Collective of Southwest Michigan
Kalamazoo County Great Start Collaborative
The Xperience by LuXury Escapes
Black Liberation at Rootead
Everything we do at Rootead is with the end goal of freeing the minds, bodies, and hearts of Black and brown people. Our focus is divided into three branches: Birth Justice, Youth Enrichment, and Community Healing.
No matter the age, there are services to liberate Black and brown folx throughout their lives. We make sure babies of color are delivered safely and equitably, teach them the arts of Africa in our Youth Enrichment programming, and create a space for open discussion and healing for adults and their families.
We look forward to celebrating Juneteenth with Kalamazoo again in 2024! Until then, check our events calendar for our next opportunity for Black liberation or subscribe to our newsletter to get updates straight to your inbox.
