Fresnans came together on June 21 for a Juneteenth march in Downtown Fresno, along with a gathering at the Fresno Convention and Entertainment Center to honor and celebrate African-American and Black culture and history.
This year marks the fifth year since Juneteenth was recognized as a national holiday in the United States. June 19, 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, was the day Union soldiers freed enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, thus beginning the holiday.
Despite this historical day, it wasn’t officially recognized as a national holiday until 2021, over 150 years later.
“So while the country celebrates July 4 as their independence day, really June 19 is more significant for us,” said Pastor B.T. Lewis, who was helping with the march.
Attendees gathered near the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce prior to the march in celebration of Juneteenth. This included several car club members who brought their custom cars and trucks. Members of the NAACP, along with a youth dance group, led this march.
Those participating in this celebration marched down Fulton Street and onto Kern Street, where they made their stop near the Fresno Convention and Entertainment Center.
People from diverse backgrounds showed up to support this march, which meant a lot to members of the Black community.
“We all bleed the same color,” said Dustin Candler, president of the NAACP Fresno chapter. “We all experience inequality, and to be able to come together as one and just celebrate each other’s heritage, our strengths, our weaknesses and celebrate our diversities—I think that’s what makes Fresno such a great city.”
Following the march, the celebration continued inside the convention center with the “Juneteenth experience.”
Food trucks and vendors were present, along with multiple speakers and performers.
Deborah McCoy is a member of the African American community and has taught performing arts, modeling, photography and more. She brought some of her hip-hop dance students to perform at the event
“Juneteenth is hip-hop, Juneteenth is dance,” McCoy said. “It all ties in together, it all comes from the same roots.”
McCoy shoulders the responsibility of being a role model to her students to better the lives of those in her community.
“It’s my responsibility to be a good person, to live a good life and to take advantage of all the natural resources that are out there for me to do better in life,” McCoy said. “Not only for me, but for my children and for my students.”
The Juneteenth celebration in Fresno ends on June 22, at the West Fresno City College campus. It will last from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will have multiple activities, workshops, speakers, vendors and more.
Candler said that this four-day celebration serves as another milestone for progress and positive change.
“This is a symbol of cultural development and progress and a reminder of how much further we have to go,” Candler said.
