7 minute read
JUNETEENTH
WORDS Tara Crutchfield
Juneteenth Celebration
Mark your calendar for the 2021 Juneteenth Celebration in Winter Haven later this month. This free, family-friendly event celebrating African American history and culture will be hosted by the City of Winter Haven at Lake Maude Recreational Park on June 19 from 1 pm to 8 pm. All are welcome – spread the word, says City of Winter Haven Special Event & Marketing Coordinator Marissa Barnes. “Bring your blankets and lawn chairs and just spread out and enjoy the ambiance. It’s going to be so much fun!”
As set forth by the Juneteenth Celebration Committee, the mission for the event is to “bring appreciation and recognition of African American history by creating an atmosphere of unity through a modern-day celebration of heritage that educates, engages the broader community, and inspires future change-makers.”
June 19, also known as Juneteenth or Emancipation Day, marks the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, General Gordon Granger and Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to relay news that the Civil War was over and the enslaved were free.
To celebrate the historical significance of Juneteenth, the community is invited to gather for a day of music, food, entertainment, and education. The idea for a Juneteenth Celebration was first pitched in early 2020 by The City of Winter Haven Special Event & Marketing Coordinator. Marissa Barnes was born and raised in Lakeland. She graduated from Harrison School for the Arts and went on to graduate from Florida A&M University. She began working for The City of Winter Haven in October of 2019.
Though this is the first year the City is hosting and sponsoring a Juneteenth event, The Historic Pughsville Association (HPA) has celebrated emancipation on May 20, or May Day, for many years. “It’s celebrated throughout Florida as being the day that the emancipation was proclaimed in Tallahassee. That’s when Florida slaves were notified of their freedom and that the Civil War had ended,” explained Barnes.
With the sentiment, “None of us are free, until all of us are free,” in mind, Barnes proposed a community Juneteenth event in Winter Haven.
Barnes spoke to the importance of Juneteenth celebrations and observances in communities around the country. “Most cities across the United States celebrate our country’s freedom on the Fourth of July with a firework display or with a celebration of patriotism, and that’s great. But, for some African Americans, that kind of misses the mark because that wasn’t the day that they were freed,” she said. “I think for a local municipality to acknowledge that history and want to celebrate it and find value in it is a huge thing. Not only are we saying, ‘We see you,’ in that celebration, but we also want to meet you and provide the resources that you need to celebrate who you are. Whether that’s through a race for Special Olympics or a Hispanic Heritage celebration, or the community Menorah lighting – we want to make sure that we are meeting these individuals and celebrating them genuinely and authentically for who they are. [...] I thought that was important for the City of Winter Haven. Not because celebrations for the African American
community don’t happen, but this is a different way. This is a more collaborative way. This is something that we are investing so much time and resources into as well.”
The Historic Pughsville Association did not host a May Day event this year, so Barnes sought the guidance of Patricia Smith-Fields, a member of the HPA. “She has been phenomenal,” said Barnes. “Really coming on board with us to celebrate and push that same message of progress and unity.”
Winter Haven City Manager Mike Herr, former Parks, Recreation & Culture Director, Travis Edwards, and current Parks, Recreation & Culture Director, Julie Adams, have been champions of the event as well, said Barnes. She went on to praise the City’s strides towards diversity and inclusivity.
“One of the things that I wanted to ensure, because this is an event that will represent so much history and culture, is that there wasn’t just an internal force behind the event; there was also an external force,” said Barnes. “That’s how I decided to create the Juneteenth Celebration Committee – partners within the community who will come in and provide us with some guidance.”
She described the City of Winter Haven’s Juneteenth Celebration Committee as an ‘amazing team’ of ‘highly motivated, innovative, and just do-ers.’ “We’ve gotten lots of encouragement from local educators, local religious entities, business owners,” she said. Some members on the committee represent those entities, like Valparisa J. Baker, Chief Diversity Officer for the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (OEDI) at Polk State College. “They are phenomenal. They will be providing support for us the day of and have been leading up to,” said Barnes. “Community partners like that have stepped up and said this is the event the community needs, and this is how we can make it happen in a fun and safe way.” Barnes also lauded the generous 2021 Juneteenth Celebration event sponsors, including Tinsley Family Concessions, Inc., Adamson + Co., P.A., Citizens Bank & Trust, Jewett Alumni Association, and The Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce. “All of those factors together have really been pushing this event to be as successful as it’s going to be in June,” she said.
“Our main goal in Parks and Rec is to create a fun and safe environment,” said Barnes. “We wanted that to be exactly what this is. It’s a jazz-filled event because we know that entertainment is at the core of any event.” In addition to jazz, education will be a significant focus of the 2021 Juneteenth Celebration. “We’ll be having speakers throughout the day who will speak to the impact from a past, present, and future perspective.”
An essential part of the educational focus of this Juneteenth Celebration is The Lem Geathers Future Change Maker Scholarship, sponsored by The Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce. Lemuel “Lem” Geathers was the first African American to be elected to the Winter Haven City Commission in 1975. From 1979-80, while serving on the Commission, Geathers became the first African American Mayor of Winter Haven. “In our education of national history, we also want to recognize local history, and that’s one of the ways we’re going to do that is by sharing his legacy,” said Barnes. “We’ve been so honored to present this
scholarship with the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce.” The Lem Geathers Future Change Maker Scholarship “is awarded to a high school senior and Winter Haven resident based on their creative sharing, explanation, or interpretation of the significant history of the emancipation of African Americans who had been enslaved in the United States.”
“We’re so thrilled to be able to continue his legacy because he did so much for the city, and this seemed like the best and most appropriate way to celebrate him,” said Barnes. The scholarship winner will be honored at the June 19 event.
Attendees can look forward to spoken word performances, dance performances, musicians, and HBCU trivia. Andre Berto will host a completion-based obstacle course for kids ages three to 18.
The musical headliner for the celebration is the Atlantabased trio Gritz & Jelly Butter. On keyboard and vocals for Gritz & Jelly Butter, Jameel Winston, hails from Winter Haven. “He’s gone on to do phenomenal shows and performances, so we’re super excited to have him back here,” said Barnes. “The Buffalo Soldiers, as well as the African American Museum of Heritage, will also be in attendance to help us further educate the community and speak factually to the past,” she added.
Winter Haven is home to over 1,500 minority-owned businesses, according to www.mywinterhaven.com. “This celebration will provide vendors of all categories with the opportunity to expand their customer base while pouring into their own community,” the website goes on to say. Vendors selling food and beverage, clothing, make-up, and more will be on-site that day to connect with the community. “We’ve gotten lots of support from non-profit vendors specifically,” said Barnes. Some such non-profits in attendance will include the Agriculture and Labor Program, Polk County Voters’ League, Positively U, and the Polk County Supervisor of Elections.
“I’ve been so lucky to have the commission, and the city manager and staff find the value in this event and really want to make it happen and want to make it a success,” said Barnes. “I don’t know how it could have been done otherwise. What a step forward.”
For more information, including becoming a sponsor or volunteer, visit www.mywinterhaven.com, or find the event page under ‘Events’ @winterhavenparks on Facebook.
