Search

    Select Website Language
    The spirit of togetherness and the meaning of freedom were felt throughout an effervescent Juneteenth NYC 17th Annual Festival in East New York, Brooklyn. Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Kim Council welcomed attendees to the Sunday, June 20, commemoration and congratulated them on celebrating the milestone together. “I bring greetings on behalf of Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. A big shoutout to every one of you as we celebrate, our culture and our resilience," said Council. "I'm glad to be here to enjoy the entertainment. Have a wonderful day, as we continue to tell, and retell our stories. God bless you." The daylong freedom festival, themed "Rooted in Strength: Our Legacy, Our Freedom, Our Future," honoring Black history and the ongoing pursuit of liberation and empowerment, kicked off at 8 a.m. with a colorful parade from Gotham Health Center to Gershwin Park. The route was lined with Black-owned businesses. A tribute to the ancestors through a libation ceremony, invocation, the Black National Anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing," and rhythmic African drumming by the female group Wistribe set the tone for the Juneteenth weekend festival. The event honored the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States, first celebrated in Texas in 1865 and officially recognized as a federal holiday when President Joe Biden signed the legislation into law in 2021. [caption id="attachment_83971" align="alignnone" width="693"] Terina Bruch captivates the audience with her spoken-word poem, 'Power of the Skin,' during the Juneteenth NYC 17th Annual Celebration in East New York.Photo by Tangerine Clarke[/caption] [caption id="attachment_83969" align="alignnone" width="700"] Models on stage with the designer of a crochet collection.Photo by Tangerine Clarke[/caption] Hundreds of residents came together to continue the mission of the nonprofit organization, which promotes diversity, inclusion and cultural heritage through community events and initiatives. The organization seeks to educate and honor the history and resilience of the Black community while fostering unity and empowerment for future generations. The entertainment reflected those themes through strong and inspiring messages. From Terina Bruch’s spoken-word poem, "Power of the Skin," to Cherokee’s tribute to fathers and engaging performances by Ruth Kendell, as well as Kai Emani’s songs Legacy and Comfort, the presentations were joyous, celebratory and filled with pride. Live to Love Family (LTLF), a spirited musical movement and youth hip-hop duo dedicated to spreading positive messages about faith, friendship and community, captured the essence of the commemoration and got patrons on their feet dancing to its inspiring verses. Rapper Brooklyn Prince performed "I Am the One," which addresses freedom that, he said, remains unreachable for some Black people. He followed with "Memoir of Entanglement," a song that spoke to troubled relationships. The Heartbreakerz Fashion Show featured its "Painter Collection," inspired by Warren Pierce’s childhood creativity and the belief that every mistake has purpose, transforming paint splatters into wearable art. A crochet collection by another local creator also lit up the runway. [caption id="attachment_83970" align="alignnone" width="467"] Hip-hop artist Kai Emani performs her song 'Legacy and Comfort' to an enthusiastic crowd.Photo by Tangerine Clarke[/caption] [caption id="attachment_83968" align="alignnone" width="700"] Members of Marching Band Glory Music and Dance Company Inc. deliver a high-energy performance.Photo by Tangerine Clarke[/caption] Other riveting performances came from the Royal Family Steppers, Marching Band Glory Music and Dance Company Inc., and CCC Boots Step, among other acts, capping off the illustrious celebration. Juneteenth NYC Founder and Executive Director Athenia Rodney stressed the importance of the event in a written statement to the media. "History teaches us that there are moments when standing for freedom, justice and human dignity is viewed as disruptive to the status quo. Yet it is in those moments that heroes emerge," Rodney said. “The men and women we celebrate during Juneteenth NYC remind us that progress has always required courage, sacrifice, and unwavering faith. As we gather this year, we honor not only those who fought for freedom in the past, but those who continue to lead, serve, and build stronger communities today.” “Our legacy was born from resilience, and our future will be built through unity, purpose and action,” she continued. Activities included a Kids Zone, vendors and community organizations, among other attractions. The presentation was made possible by generous sponsors, including Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages, Ben Last Amazon, Value Love, NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, NYC Council Member Chris Banks, Color of Change, Facets of Pandora and PIX11 News, among others.
    Previous Article
    Pridefest ‘For All Of Us’ culminates month-long period of Big Apple revelry
    Next Article
    Student Loan Repayment Options Are Changing July 1st

    Related Diaspora Updates:

    Are you sure? You want to delete this comment..! Remove Cancel

    Comments (0)

      Leave a comment