Juneteenth celebrations throughout West Michigan

(WXMI) — Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when African Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free. Three years ago, the day became a federal holiday.

To mark the occasion, numerous celebrations took place throughout West Michigan this Wednesday.

The Justice 4 All Juneteenth Jam was held at Calder Plaza in Grand Rapids. It was the fourth year the event was held, and organizers estimated that 2,000 to 3,000 people attended.

These people watched a breakdancing competition, listened to speeches from community leaders and took the time to support black businesses.

“Juneteenth is kind of America’s true Independence Day, when everyone was actually notified and declared free,” says chief organizer Julius Treez. “My goal for the event is honestly to make it as ambitious as the Fourth of July event, or maybe even bigger.”

Julius says it’s been incredible to see the event grow from a few hundred attendees in the first year. He says they plan to make the celebration even bigger and better next year.

The Juneteenth event in Holland focused on education, with a particular emphasis on young people.

“This is super important because it starts with the younger people. That’s where they are shaped and developed, and the more festivals they attend and the more contact they have with other cultures, the more their willingness to accept others and their differences will grow,” explains Lindsay Cherry, co-founder and co-director of the I Am Academy.

The Downtown Holland Farmers Market and Heritage District Library have partnered with I Am Academy to read stories to participants.

Cherry says it is important that Juneteenth Day is recognized and celebrated in U.S. cities large and small.

“It should be celebrated across the country because if there is injustice anywhere, there is injustice everywhere,” she says.

Holland: Juneteenth celebration teaches children the meaning of the holiday

In Muskegon, children took center stage at the city’s first Youth Juneteenth Parade.

Michelle Tyson, founder and CEO of Taking Back Muskegon, organized the event.

“We combined our afternoon and summer programs and just wanted to see what the kids thought about Juneteenth,” Tyson says.

She tells us that Juneteenth Day was an opportunity for children to celebrate the holiday during the summer break.

“This is the first year that it’s actually a holiday, a legal holiday,” Tyson says. “So (Mr. Watts) was like, ‘You know what? The kids are off school. Let’s do an old-fashioned, … good old parade with the kids leading it and just having fun.'”

Tyson expressed her gratitude to the city for helping to make Wednesday’s parade possible.

“I have to give a huge shout out to the city of Muskegon for opening their arms and doors to us for this Juneteenth celebration,” Tyson says. “When I reached out to them, they said, ‘You know what? This will be the first time.’ … They just welcomed the idea and offered to help in any way they could.”

Tyson says she is already planning next year’s parade.

First Juneteenth Youth Parade held in Muskegon

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