For more than four decades Juneteenth has been celebrated in Stockton.
The San Joaquin Juneteenth Foundation Inc., nonprofit is celebrating its 48th annual Stockton Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 15. Festivities will kick off at 10 a.m. at the Weber Point Events Center at 221 N. Center St. in downtown Stockton.
“It’s a community event to learn about the history and appreciate the struggle of African-Americans, anybody who are a partners or supporters of equity, and equality and fairness,” Danelle Shelton, president of San Joaquin Juneteenth Foundation Inc., told The Record. “It’s really for everybody, but the aim and the celebration is toward African-Americans. But everybody is welcome.”
This year theme is “love, respect, and honor,” Shelton said.
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth recognizes and celebrates the day when enslaved African Americans were emancipated, USA TODAY reported.
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According to USA TODAY, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863 to free enslaved African Americans. However, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865, that Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas with 2,000 Union troops to proclaim that more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were free.
On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth a U.S. federal holiday after Congress passed The Juneteenth National Independence Day Act that same month, they reported.
Juneteenth in Stockton
The San Joaquin Juneteenth Foundation Inc., was founded in 1976, with the first celebration at Taft Community Center, Shelton said.
“One of the things that we are rededicating ourselves to educating the community on history and not only the history of the event Juneteenth but also the history of Stockton, Black Stockton,” Shelton said.
Shelton, 45, who recently became president of the organization in April plans to rejuvenate the organization. She wants more youth involved, develop new programs, all with a new vision, mission and purpose, she said.
The celebrations theme goes beyond just a theme for the one day celebration but it is also the foundation of the revamp of the organization, she said.
“By teaching not only about freedom, but about love, respect and honor, we’re hoping to not only revamp our organization, but also revamp and re-inspire our community to try again,” Shelton said. “To build bridges to get involved in community events, again.”
Shelton also highlighted the importance of forgiveness to “move forward into purpose, move forward into unity, and move forward into building a healthy Stockton.”
Saturday’s celebration will feature local vendors, education and health expos, financial area, history, food vendors, live entertainment and more, she said.
Jamaican food, “comfort food,” and baked treats will be at the celebration.
At noon there will also be a special tribute to Dorothy L. Jones and community awards, their website states. There will also be free Father’s Day portraits.
Entertainment will begin at 1 p.m. with rapper “Rio,” at 3 p.m. New Orleans Mardi Gras Marching Band “The Gumbo Band” will take the stage, and at 5 p.m. R&B singer “Issa Simone,” will perform.
According to the organization’s website, at 4 p.m. there will be a community water balloon fight and games.
“I do just want to thank all the elders and all of the African-American organizations for their hard work and their persistence of paving the way…” Shelton said. “I want to acknowledge Gloria Johnson, who has been with the organization and the last couple of years, she has been pushing it forward and doing a lot of the work herself.”
According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau from 2020, 11.6% of the population in Stockton identified themselves as “Black or African American alone, percent.” In San Joaquin County that number is at 8.3%.
Shelton said she is looking for a brand new staff. She is accepting applications for professionals and volunteers. Anyone interested can apply at stocktonjuneteenth.org/.
This is a ticketed event, but tickets are free and paid for by the event sponsors, the event’s Facebook page states.
“The main purpose is to bring awareness of African-American issues and equality,” Shelton said. “Raising that awareness that we still have struggles, definitely the history of what we endured regarding slavery and equities and racial issues…our desire is to bring awareness as African-Americans our struggle in our fight for freedom.”
For more information about this celebration visit stocktonjuneteenth.org.
Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY contributed to this report.
Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. To support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
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