BROOKINGS The Brookings Human Rights Commission will present the citys sixth annual Juneteenth celebration at Pioneer Park in Brookings on Thursday.
Participants can once again expect a family friendly atmosphere with live music, presentations, art projects, kids activities and food vendors on site.
The event runs from 5 to 8 p.m. at the park, with the New Orleans-style brass band playing from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and a DJ to follow.
We encourage families to come have fun together and join us in building a world where the next generation grows up knowing their history and shaping a better future, said Dianne Nagy, chair of the Human Rights Commission.
Juneteenth, celebrated annually on or around June 19, marks the date in 1865 when federal troops ordered slaves in Texas officially freed more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It has been called the longest-running African-American holiday and Americas Second Independence Day.
Then-President Joe Biden signed a bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021, formalizing the longstanding celebrations across the nation.
South Dakota was the last state to recognize the holiday at a state level.
This celebration is a valuable opportunity for all residents to publicly affirm the value of diversity and to elevate Brookings as a welcoming and inclusive community, Nagy said.
But Brookings has had strong attendance at the celebrations for the past five years, and organizers anticipate another strong turnout this year.
Juneteenth is an important reminder that freedom is collective and our journey towards justice is ongoing. This celebration provides a venue to honor the past, acknowledge our uncomfortable history, recognize progress on the long and thorny path towards equity, and commit to press on together, Nagy said.
All community members of all races are welcomed to the event. There is no cost to attend and registration is not required.
Originally rooted in cookouts, picnics and family reunions of separated former slaves, Juneteenth celebrations usually favor an eclectic and celebratory feel, and the Brookings events over the years have followed suit.
The fashion show is not returning this year, but there will be yard games, art projects and fun activities for all to enjoy, along with an even bigger live band than last year.
Vendors include Shortys Gourmet Grub, Monkey Business Treats, Little Prairie Coffee, and LaCorita (across the street).
Linehan is the Registers managing editor and welcomes comments at [email protected].
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