By Dianne Anderson

Across Orange County this Juneteenth, thousands will meet up for incredible edibles, music, hugs from longtime friends and faraway family, face painting and jumpers for the kids with nonstop fun for everyone.

For his grand annual festivity, Dwayne Shipp is energized to be back on familiar ground in Santa Ana after hosting the event in Anaheim last year. He said their MC is well known for his work as a music historian.

“We’re expecting more this year just because of the excitement in returning to Santa Ana and getting the word out to the community. Our Master of Ceremonies Tyrone DuBose is the voice of unsung R&B historian, and how music documents our journey. We’re going have a good time,” said Shipp, president of the Orange County Heritage Council.

On Saturday, June 14, OC-HC is back on track for freedom, culture, and community. The family-friendly event is held at Centennial Park, located at 3000 W Edinger Ave, Santa Ana, from noon to 6:00 p.m.

Under the theme, “Embrace the Legacy and Empower the Future,” the community will honor those who have stayed strong throughout history in the worst of times, and are ready to step up to the times ahead.

His mother, Helen Shipp, started the Black History Parade in Santa Ana 45 years ago, which has grown a big following of faithful vendors to turn out again this year, bringing all sorts of goods and services to the people.

Shipp’s organization also continues to give back with help from the community. OC-HC has, over the decades, consistently provided Christmas toy giveaways, free turkeys, and thousands in scholarships for Black students, along with an annual Dr. MLK Celebration.

No doubt, things are hitting the community in various ways, but Shipp said they just continue to do what they’ve always done – provide resources and make sure they stay focused.

“Whoever is in office, our community needs resources, I’m making sure CalOptima is out there, Kaiser is out there, making sure we have mental health services. We’re still doing the work that needs to be done,” he said. “Regardless of what’s going on, the work never ends.”

Among the crowd pleasers lined up include Jamaican cuisine of Island Spice-tingz and Santa Ana Redds AD’s Sweets n Treats, and many others. LibroMobile bookstore hosts its selection of books focused on Black, African and Pan-African works, the community and Juneteenth.

CalOptima and New Spirit Baptist Church, will have a booth, and Health Equity for African Americans League Collective (HEAAL), will also share a booth with Second Baptist Church.

Educational booths will have pamphlets on the history so people can learn the real story behind the Juneteenth celebration.

“We have games, obstacle courses, jump houses, fun activities for all ages. We have huge food trucks, local vendors, delicious food,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for community to come out, get some resources, and have a good day.”

Bea Jones, longtime OC-HC historian, reflects on the deeper meaning behind Juneteenth and how so many people still miss the backstory.

Emancipation took two years to reach Galveston, Texas, but it wasn’t for lack of awareness of Black Texans as much as resistance and rebellion by local government and white slaveholders, who feared losing enslaved people as valuable money-makers.

“When you have chains there is only so much you can do, some of that we don’t know about,” she said. “People knew freedom was there, but the wealthy people didn’t want to lose.”

Despite the official delay, she said the community never stopped pulling smaller celebrations together nationwide.

“Juneteenth events were happening all over the United States with different dates because in every state pockets of Black people heard about the emancipation and celebrated those dates. I was shocked to learn that,” she said.

Right now, she admits times are wild, but to her, it’s not much harsher than what she remembers as a young woman in Watts when the riots broke out.

“It’s nothing new, it’s not worse than before,” she said. “It’s just that we’re seeing things from a different angle.”

Then, she remembers being escorted out of the government building as the police barreled into the area. She was living in Hollywood, but they wouldn’t let her check in on her mom and dad, who had a business in Watts.

Later, she became a captain in the Army, but never forgot the reason for democracy.

Juneteenth became an official federal holiday on June 17, 2021, signed into law by President Biden.

It may be hard to separate the event from the politics, but she said Juneteenth, as she knows it, is a uniquely Black celebration. Still, many do not understand the holiday.

“It’s Black people sharing their experiences, coming together. Some look forward to the future, some enjoying the moment. Over the years, I’ve seen people come out that didn’t know anything about it and they should have known,” she said.

On Thursday, June 19, the whole family is invited out to the City of Buena Park’s free 2nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom with more fun, packed with local vendors, and activities for kids and adults.

Pull up a lawn chair or spread out a blanket and enjoy the moment. Their website says early seating is first come, first serve from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. with live entertainment at Boisseranc Park, located at 7520 Dale St., Buena Park. Parking is available at the front and additional parking is permitted on the field at the rear.

Freedom and unity performances are by the praise dance team of Friendship Baptist Church. High-energy sounds come by way of Biscuits & Gravy Live, a concert band of longtime friends. Featured speakers include Rev. Dr. Kenneth Curry, Pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Yorba Linda, with words and tribute to the legacy of Juneteenth.

Also, the following Saturday, Irvine holds its Juneteenth Freedom Celebration on June 21 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. That free event, presented by BIPOC Orange County in partnership with the City of Irvine, will be held at 8000 Great Park Blvd, Irvine. Community and local organizations will come out for a day of dance, music, poetry, art, and live performances. Free parking is available on-site.

For more information:
Orange County Heritage Council
https://www.oc-hc.org/

Buena Park event, see https://www.buenapark.com/city_departments/community_services/special_events/juneteenth_celebration.php

Irvine Juneteenth event, see https://irvinejuneteenth.com/