The Port Huron community is being called to come together to celebrate Juneteenth at St. Clair County Community College.
The SC4 Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is hosting its second in-person Juneteenth event titled “Freedom Day 2023: A Juneteenth Celebration” from noon to 6 p.m. Monday on SC4’s campus.
Alphonso Amos, an event organizer, said he and the rest of the organizers are excited to host a Juneteenth celebration.
“We encourage people to come out and celebrate Juneteenth,” Amos said.
Juneteenth is an annual holiday that commemorates the day when the last slaves in Galveston, Texas, were told of their freedom on June 19, 1865, which was two and a half years after the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in January of 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln.
The event at SC4 is free and will feature games and activities, food, live music performances and entertainment, Black-owned business vendors, giveaways, educational and community resources, and a Kid’s Zone that includes free crafts, games, a cake walk, activities and bounce houses.
Amos said the organizers are encouraging people to support the Black-owned businesses that will be at the event. Additionally, there will be local organizations providing resources to event attendees, such as Community Mental Health, MSU Extension and St. Clair County Health Department.
This is the second in-person Juneteenth celebration at SC4, but its third overall, with the very first one being virtual. Amos said for this year’s celebration, the organizers wanted to bring in new entertainment and new vendors.
“We’re bringing in younger talent and just diversifying the entertainment with rap, gospel and some eclectic type of music,” Amos said.
Amos said Juneteenth is important to celebrate because it serves as a powerful reminder and commemoration of the journey toward emancipation and ongoing struggle for racial equality. He said it represents an important milestone in American history.
“It reminds us of the long path towards freedom and serves as a testament to the resilience of Black community,” Amos said.
Additionally, Amos said Juneteenth is a cultural celebration that focuses on Black heritage, culture and achievements It provides an opportunity for people to honor and recognize the contributions the community has had in art, music, literature and more.
The SC4 Juneteenth celebration is co-hosted by SC4, the City of Port Huron, the NAACP Port Huron Branch, Port Huron Museums, St. Clair County Organizing for Regional Equity, Black Lives Matter Port Huron, the International Council of Community Churches, the Community Foundation of St. Clair County and the Diversity Initiative of St. Clair County.