MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA 2021 PARTICIPATED IN AN HISTORICAL EVENT

      

Photo, Courtesy Sherri McGhie, MSNJSA'15

The Juneteenth Celebration, a popular African-American holiday, was observed across the United States over the past weekend.  Dorothy Johnson, MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA 2021, participated in the Cherry Hill Parade on Saturday.  Juneteenth has been celebrated since 1866, but despite its popularity, it never received national recognition.  That all changed, however, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, on June 15, 2021, and that the date of its observance will remain as June 19th. 

The first celebration of Juneteenth dates back to 1866, and originated in Galveston, Texas.  Although President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which ended institutional slavery, the law took time to enforce in all States.  Such was the case in Texas, where due to a low presence of Union troops, enforcement there was slow, and was delayed until 1865.  A year later, church groups in Galveston, started the tradition, with family gatherings and food festivals.  As years past, the idea spread throughout the South.  In the 1960's, these celebrations were were eclipsed by the determination to achieve civil rights.  In the 1970's the focus shifted to African-American freedom and arts.  In 1980, Texas became the first State to recognize Juneteenth as an official holiday.  In 2020, Rep, Sheila-Lee Jackson introduced a bill to make it a federal holiday. 

Today, Juneteenth celebrations may include public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, singing traditional songs such as "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "Lift Every Voice and Sing", and the reading of works by prominent African-American writers.  Some Juneteenth celebrations also include rodeos street fairs, family reunions, historical reenactments, and a Miss Juneteenth Contest.  Source: wikipedia.  

                                                                                   Photos, Courtesy family

After the parade, people gathered in the stage area to hear speeches and presentations from invited dignitaries.  QUEEN Dorothy, was one of the guest speakers. 

Carolyn Harden, MSNJSA'17 and MSSA'17, chaperoned QUEEN Dorothy, and sat alongside her as they rode atop a convertible.  They smiled warmly and waved to the townspeople along the parade route.  

Thanks to these two QUEENS for doing their part in promoting the awareness of the newest federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day.