Many organizations in South Dakota are encouraging people of all cultures to celebrate this year’s Juneteenth. While people have celebrated Juneteenth, the true end of slavery, for centuries, it was only recognized as a federal holiday in 2021. South Dakota declared Juneteenth an official state holiday just last year.
The president of USD’s Union of African American Students, Bennett Clary, is helping create a Juneteenth celebration in Vermilion. Clary said recognizing Juneteenth as a federal holiday is a symbol of support for the African-American community.
“It shows that the larger American community does see us, and that they do see our struggle and our fight to become free,” Clary said. “They see it as a reason to celebrate, a reason to have time off of work to remember and celebrate and acknowledge what we have gone through, and what we are still going through.”
Clary said people of all cultures should attend Juneteenth celebrations to gain a better understanding of history. While the significance of other national holidays like the Fourth of July is well-known, Juneteenth receives far less attention. Even as a Black woman, Clary said she doesn’t fully know the history of Juneteenth because it’s hardly talked about.
While the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863, slavery didn’t end immediately. In fact, it took more than two years before the news arrived in Texas, setting the last African-American people free. The true day of emancipation was June 19, 1865. The day became known as “Juneteenth,” and annual celebrations began.
An organizer of Rapid City’s Juneteenth event, Donovan Washington, said their celebration will focus on uplifting people. He said while no one should forget the history of African-American suffering, it is critical to look at the triumphs.
“A lot of our history, at least in the Black community, has been kind of saturated with trauma,” Washington said. “Although that is a reality, there’s also a myriad of success stories, there’s a myriad of positivity in our story as well, and those are the things that’s important to highlight as well.”
Celebrating this milestone, Washington said, helps people begin to rewrite the narrative and become proud of their unique background and perspective.
The racial history of the United States causes controversy, especially for public school educators. Some states have passed legislation to restrict how teachers address the topic, hoping to avoid focusing on the legacy of slavery. Those lawmakers say acknowledging racial history creates unnecessary guilt for students.
The president of USD’s Cultural Wellness Coalition, Aliyah Jackson, is another organizer of Vermilion’s Juneteenth event. She sees Juneteenth as a day to learn and understand without grief.
“Our whole thing is that the celebration is not heavy,” Jackson said. “It’s not guilting anybody; it’s a good thing. Yes, it’s unfortunate circumstances that, you know, history went through all this and whatnot, but, we want this…it’s a good thing, it’s a day of celebration.”
While Juneteenth commemorates African-American freedom, many involved in organizing events say all cultures are free to recognize the holiday.
Brookings Human Rights Commission chair, Nieema Thasing, is helping coordinate the fourth Juneteenth celebration in Brookings. She said the holiday is an opportunity to spread awareness about cultures that are not always represented in the majority.
“And why not, why not include everybody in a joyful celebration, because it is something to be joyful about,” Thasing said. “It happened, and we are working towards the actual living of the freedom that has been promised.”
Many event organizers say one way for other cultures to respectfully participate in Juneteenth is to be willing to learn.
A Juneteenth Board Member for the Sioux Falls celebration, Harriet Yocum, said Juneteenth should be recognized by everyone. She said commemorating the holiday as a community provides an opportunity for people of all cultures to foster understanding for each other by acknowledging a history different from their own.
“So, you’re not overstepping, you’re actually educating yourself, and celebrating the unity of freedom among all of our community,” Yocum said.
Thasing shares this sentiment. She encourages everyone to stay curious and expose themselves to events like Juneteenth, since its history affects everyone.
“Because if I’m not free, neither are you,” she said.
Juneteenth celebrations will take place across the state over the weekend and on the official state holiday, Monday June 19.