LEXINGTON PARK, Md. – The Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions (UCAC) hosted an enriching day with their Juneteenth Celebration of Emancipation and African American Cultural Heritage at John G. Lancaster Park on Saturday, June 15.
The Juneteenth Festival is a celebration of the announcement made on June 19, 1865, to enslaved people held in bondage in Texas that they had been freed since January 1, 1863, two and half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, according to Dorothy Waters of the UCAC Public Relations Committee.
The celebration featured a genealogy workshop, Juneteenth craft making, children activities, and attendees learned the history of Lexington Manor, also known as The Flat Tops, Waters said.
Attendees additionally heard stories from Ms. Story’s Living History, a compilation on BIPOC women in American history performed by Shemika Renee.
On stage, the celebration featured the Presentation of Colors by the Great Mills High School Naval Junior Reserve Officers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a musical performance of the Star Spangled Banner both by St. Mary’s County students.
Every year honorees are chosen by recognizing those who make a difference in the community and are presented on stage. This year’s honorees were chosen within the theme of “Encouraging a Brighter Future.”
Honorees include Beatrice Wingate Ellis, William Green, Marcus Tyrone Harris, Corporal Holton, and Timothy Wayne Smith.
The Emancipation Proclamation was also read by Diane Thomas. Waters believes it is always eye-opening to hear aloud as it only freed the enslaved in states that rebelled against the Union, she said.
Maryland was not in rebellion so it was still a slave-holding state until November 1, 1864, almost two years after the Proclamation.
The UCAC hopes attendees realize you can’t eliminate history by turning away from it, according to Waters.
“You can revise it, or tweak it, or not talk about it, but it still exists. Hopefully, this yearly event gives people the idea to research the backstory to find out what hasn’t been told or even how it has been told,” Waters said.
Juneteenth celebrations remind people that freedom laws for African or Black Americans weren’t enacted that long ago and although still limited, it was a beginning, according to Waters.
“Juneteenth celebrates the fact that you can choose your own destiny,” Waters stated.
To learn more about UCAC, click here.
Contact our news desk at news@thebaynet.com
So glad this is happening! About time!