by Dianne Anderson

If the community didn’t have enough to talk about at last year’s Juneteenth – this year should provide more than enough conversation to cover the latest threats to freedom and democracy.

Across the Inland Empire, Orange County, and Long Beach, celebrations are honoring Black history by preserving the culture, and defending the power of the vote for social progress.

At her upcoming 4th Annual Juneteenth Riverside event, Kayla Booker is hosting the Registrar of Voters, and from now until November, she is intentionally looking to reach teens turning 18 before the Big Election to exercise their democratic rights.

“This election cycle is going to be very critical to everyone’s lives, and to make sure that our community has the right information. Our vote does matter especially at local levels, and that we’re educated and we’re involved,” said Booker, founder of Black Leaders Achieving Culture Knowledge, (B.L.A.C.K.) Collective, and recently appointed first alternate of Riverside County Democratic Central Committee.

On June 15, the Juneteenth Celebration will be held at Fairmount Park in Riverside, where she expects to draw about 2,000 or better, the same as last year. Attractions include a fashion show with Black-owned fashion designers. This year’s event is sponsored by Target, and she said they have 57 vendors spanning a range of resources, health and wellness, nonprofits, along with good food and entertainment.

Community empowerment is important, she said. At the event, the City of Riverside is hosting a boot with information on job openings, boards and commissions, and how to apply.

“Whether it’s empowerment for entrepreneurs, and last year it was all Black community nonprofits that came out. This year it’s about voting jobs and economics. Every year it can be fun but it also has to be empowerment and advocacy,” she said.

In the High Desert, Terrance Stone is also collaborating with the Black Student Union at Victor Valley College where he said BSU is expanding its reach and resources. That event will be held June 18 as students are still on campus, and can access the offerings.

“I’m connecting them with some Tuskegee Airmen. We’ll have Chase bank, and other partners and entities trying to get connected with them so they can grow,” he said, adding that Juneteenth is not just about community resources, but also historical content and context, especially in these tense political times.

“We have the opportunity to present to the community what Juneteenth is, and beyond Juneteenth, it’s also a good time for Black folks and everyone else to get together and show love for one another, have a great time and smile again,” he said.

On Wednesday, June 19, Rialto also celebrates its Juneteenth Jam: “It’s a Family Affair” with food, music, film, skate, basketball, followed by other activities featuring Stronger Together Now, Black the Block, Fentwood Hoops, and DEV Partnerships, held from 4:00-9:00 p.m. at Alec Fergusson Park,  at 2395 West Sunrise Drive Rialto.

In Orange County, Dwayne Shipp is excited to host their annual Juneteenth Festival in Anaheim for the first time ever. In past years, the Orange County Heritage Council held events in Santa Ana, however, the city chose another company to host the event this year.

His mother Helen Shipp, having started the Black History Parade in Santa Ana 45 years ago, garnered dozens of steadfast vendors who are following them to his Anaheim location, plus many new vendors have joined the celebration.

“We pay homage to relive this because we’re still not free. The pursuit of freedom, equality, fostering unity, cultural exchange, and shared values. That’s why our theme is freedom is not free. Every day we pay the cost,” said Shipp, president of the Orange County Heritage Council.

For OC-HC, he said the real cost is time and energy of their dedicated volunteers over four decades. Their nonprofit supports the community annually. Last year, they had over 3,000 Christmas toy giveaways, over 1,200 turkeys, and about $25,000 in scholarships for Black students, along with the Dr. MLK Celebration.

On Saturday, June 15, the OC-HC Juneteenth Festival will be held at Pearson Park Amphitheatre from noon to 7:00 p.m. at 400 North Harbor Boulevard Anaheim.

Many nonprofits will be on site, including the National Action Network of Orange County to help register voters. Other participants will fight discrimination gaps in healthcare with services, including the Health Equity for African Americans League Collective (HEAAL), along with providers, CalOptima, OC Healthcare Agency, and Planned Parenthood, to name a few.

“Juneteenth is not just a festival,” Shipp said. “It stands as a significant celebration marking the end of slavery in the United States. It’s a day dedicated to honor African American heritage and recognize remarkable contributions.”

This year, they have live music, food and fun, but as always, the spotlight is Black history and culture, and what it means to be African in America.

He is concerned about the danger as other cultures that are out of touch with Black history take over Juneteenth or other Black community functions. For instance, he said his organization would never dream of hosting Cinco De Mayo or St. Patrick’s Day because he is not immersed in those cultures and history.

But as a rule of thumb, he said Black people hosting Juneteenth events are aware of historic weapons used against them – such as the racist connotations of the word picnic.

Ferris State University’s Jim Crow Museum of Racist Imagery explores several historic news reports of lynching picnics. One among many is The Buffalo Times printing of a story from the United Press reporting a lynching of two black men, Pete Bolen and Dit Seales, in Starkville, Mississippi.

“According to the article, county officials “declared a holiday, erected a double scaffold and invited all to attend. More than 5,000 men, women and children responded. The affair took on the aspect of a huge picnic. Lunches were spread on the ground and soda pop and peanut vendors were kept busy.” The event was also used by local candidates to do some “electioneering” of the white voters and the crowd all joined together to sing Isaac Watt’s hymn, “There is a land of pure delight” as the two men were hanged,” the university reports.

This year, Santa Ana’s “Juneteenth Picnic” is hosted by Temecula-based event marketing agency Soundskilz, which the city awarded for this year’s Juneteenth. Their event will be held Saturday, June 22 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. at Centennial Park, 3000 W. Edinger Ave, featuring DJ A-One and Bruno and the Hooligans, a Bruno Mars tribute band, a Kids Zone family activities, and food vendors.

In Long Beach on June 15, the headliner Anderson .Paak, better known as DJ Pee Wee will turn the tables for anticipated thousands expected out for Juneteenth at Rainbow Lagoon Park at 400 E. Shoreline Dr. The free event requires RSVP with tickets at www.lbjuneteenth.com.

That event will also host Black Greek fraternities and sororities, step shows, comedy performances and poetry, and a variety of sponsors, including local Black owned businesses and soul food.

“I’m looking forward to celebrating Black freedom,” said DJ Pee Wee aka Anderson Paak in a statement. “I’ve got a special set cooked up and I can’t wait to vibe with the city of LBC.”
For the Orange County Heritage Council, see www.oc-hc.org

To learn more about the history of Lynching Picnics, see https://jimcrowmuseum.ferris.edu/question/2021/july.htm