Staten Island’s Best Dressed: Stunning photos from 5 Juneteenth events

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Featured in this week’s Staten Island’s Best Dressed are photos from five Juneteenth celebrations with Staten Island representation, held throughout the month of June 2024.

On June 6, NYC Mayor Eric Adams’s Juneteenth Coalition hosted the second annual Juneteenth flag raising near The Charging Bull sculpture, located at Bowling Green near Wall Street in Manhattan. The event, steeped in the historical context of Juneteenth, brought together Black-led organizations from all five boroughs, at a location merely blocks away from historic slave auctions at Exchange Place.

Leading African American organizations were in attendance, including: National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, Juneteenth Committee of Masjid Malcolm Shabazz, Juneteenth in Queens Community Festival, Juneteenth NYC, Staten Island Community Alliance Corp, and Roc-A-Natural Cultural Foundation Inc.

Staten Island Community Alliance President, Dana Walker-Boyd, presented the history of the Pan-African flag, noted for its historical significance, created by Marcus Garvey.

On June 9, an event hosted by the NJ President of the NAACP Metuchen Edison Piscataway Branch at the Piscataway Public Library was attended by SICA. The special guest of the evening was Dr. Opal Lee, well-regarded and well-respected as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth.”

A Presidential Freedom Award medal recipient, Lee walked from her hometown of Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, DC, to raise awareness about the significance of Juneteenth. Her efforts and those of supporters across the country led to Juneteenth becoming a federal holiday in 2021.

On June 15, hundreds of people lined Bay Street for the Freedom Parade and Festival, held in Stapleton’s Tappen Park, organized by Dorcas Meyers, founder of Roc-A-Natural Cultural Foundation. Meyers dressed in 19th century attire for the Freedom Players’ historical reenactment of the enforcement of General Orders No. 3 — an American legal decree issued in 1865, freeing all remaining enslaved people.

“This is a celebration and a commemoration of our freedom,” Meyers said of June 19, 1865, which marked the effective end of slavery in the United States — even though the Emancipation Proclamation was issued more than two years prior in 1863. “This event and this day are about peace, love and understanding.”

On June 18, Mayor Adams again hosted a Juneteenth celebration, this time at his residence at Gracie Mansion, Manhattan. The picturesque waterfront setting featured food and spirits offered by Black-owned restaurants and companies.

“Staten Island had a significant presence, with organizations such as Staten Island Community Alliance, NAACP Staten Island Branch, National Council of Negro Women, Inc., Staten Island Section, The Richmond County Black and Minority Chamber of Commerce (BMC), Canvas Institute Arts Culture Civic Engagement in attendance,” said Walker-Boyd.

“The event highlighted the cultural richness, collective vision, and the collaborative spirit of African American leadership and the community impact of the NYC Mayor’s office, non-profit organizations, and businesses,” she added.

Finally, on June 22, the fourth annual Juneteenth Freedom Festival was held on a hot Saturday afternoon, hosted by the Staten Island Community Alliance, at Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Livingston. Considered a resounding success, the event was celebrated by dozens of Black-led organizations, featuring an array of activities and performances, and underscored the significance of Juneteenth while fostering community spirit and cultural awareness.

Guests enjoyed live music, historical presentations, and family-friendly entertainment, including an entrepreneur zone, Wellness Village in the Tuscan Garden, free admission to both the Staten Island Museum and the Staten Island Children’s Museum, the step dance performances, P.S. 59 performances, and the Motherland Fashion Show, highlighting African cultural attire.

There were additional performances by Shyheim “The Rugged Child” Franklin and Friends — who thrilled the crowd with their hip hop numbers, celebrating 30 years in the music industry, featuring G. Dep, Little Vicious, Shawn Breed, and Yasin Hernandez.

The lead sponsor was CHASI, which offered health screenings, a photo booth, food giveaways, and multiple raffles. Vendors offered a variety of foods, crafts, and merchandise, contributing to a vibrant marketplace atmosphere.

“The participation of local organizations, generous sponsors including the St. George Theatre event ticket raffles, CHASE Bank, and enthusiastic attendees made this year’s festival memorable and impactful,” added Boyd.