Atlantic City, N.J. – All eyes and ears were fixed on New Jersey Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way during Stockton
University’s annual Juneteenth celebration on Monday, June 17.
As the sun shone on the audience of students, staff and faculty gathered in the Residential
Quad of Kesselman Hall in Atlantic City, Way proudly declared, “It’s a beautiful Juneteenth
to be with Stockton University.”
Beautiful, indeed. The wind off the ocean provided perfect moments of relief as everyone
sat at tables decorated with red, green and yellow tablecloths, numerous pins and
rubber bracelets.
In her remarks, Way reaffirmed her and Gov. Phil Murphy’s commitment to commemorating
and honoring the memory of Juneteenth. According to Way, Murphy felt that the historic legislation signed into law in 2020 was a milestone that should’ve happened long before their administration.
New Jersey observes Juneteenth on the third Friday in June, while nationally, it is
recognized as June 19.
“In order to honor Juneteenth, we must do more and deliver justice through providing
economic opportunities, fully funding public schools, increasing homeownership and
employment opportunities and providing mentorship and investment for Black entrepreneurs
and businesses. Restorative justice requires all of us,” Way said.
Way also encouraged a moment of levity when she suddenly surprised her Alpha Kappa
Alpha sorority sister, Stockton’s Executive Vice President Terricita Sass, with a rendition of “Happy Birthday,” as the latter shares her birthday with the
holiday. A chorus of “skees” was heard throughout the performance as audience members
laughed, cheered, and joined in on the singing.
Between mirthful moments were sentiments of paving the path forward and looking toward
creating a positive legacy for the future championed by Haashim Smith-Johnson ’19,
former president of the Unified Black Students Society, and Louise Kennedy, president
of the student organization Commuters on the Go.
“Events such as our annual Juneteenth celebration only push Stockton in the right
direction. While this event is a celebration, let’s still recognize that there is
still work to do in and for our community. The year will be a challenging test in
all aspects, and we must pay as much attention as possible,” said Smith-Johnson, who’s
now a Stockton Admissions recruiter. “Please continue to acknowledge the journey our culture has experienced
and continue to strengthen our community to know where we are going. I know it may
sound cliche, but we are stronger together and it has shown through the test of time.”
“Though Juneteenth commemorates a day we are all unable to physically remember, today,
we can take care to fathom the awe-inspiring moments when the chains of so many Black
people in America were let loose, bringing them opportunities – however slim – for
them to grow into the scientists, inventors, parents, activists and more that they
were always meant to be. The pain suffered by those within the African diaspora, both
past, present and future, will not be disregarded, and in honor of Juneteenth, we
can rejoice in the fruits of the labor of such resilience,” said Kennedy, who’s a Health Sciences major.
President Joe Bertolino shaking hands with NJ Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way and Dianne Stalling
Attendees in the Res Quad on the Atlantic City campus
Afriprintz
Students part of the organization “Commuters on the Go” and Louie Kennedy (center
in red)
Honey Hair Care
A part of the mini-exhibit by Ralph Hunter
An attendee getting food from Jovin Fernandez, director of the Multicultural Center
Stockton President Joe Bertolino referenced the current climate surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
and reiterated the university’s commitment to continuing to make the campus a welcoming
environment for all.
“To combat this (attack on social justice), let us honor those who came before us
by carrying on the work of creating an environment that is fair, equitable and welcoming
to all,” Bertolino said. “I am proud that Stockton continues to engage in this work,
whether through our Africana Studies program – which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary – our race and racism education courses, our annual Fannie Lou Hamer Human and Civil Rights Symposium – which just celebrated its 20th anniversary, and the list goes on and on.
“Stockton is committed to doing the work of engaging civil discourse, community engagement
and social justice. Now is the time to stand firm in our commitment to building a
community of opportunity and ensuring that everyone in our community is treated with
dignity, respect, kindness, compassion and civility,” Bertolino said.
In addition to supporting local businesses, such as Ghanian-owned clothing boutique
Afriprintz and Honey Hair Care and enjoying soul food within the residential hall, attendees
had the opportunity to peruse a mini exhibition on the history of Black Atlantic City
residents curated by Ralph Hunter, the founder of the African-American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey.
Hunter, who visits over 100 college and university campuses a year, shared many little-known
facts about Black life in Atlantic City and New Jersey, including that the state’s
roots in enslavement were deeper than what is commonly known.
According to Hunter, the last enslaved African-American woman in New Jersey, known
as Lucy, was held in bondage in Mays Landing until 1871, six years after the liberation
of multiple people in Texas that Juneteenth now commemorates. Lucy’s personal belongings,
including her trunk and various tools, are now on display in the museum.
Jersey, curated a mini-exhibit that was on display throughout the event.
Amidst the black-and-white photos of various Miss Black America pageants, Black-owned
businesses and children playing in the sand at Missouri Avenue Beach (known popularly
as Chicken Bone Beach), Hunter sat in a chair, ready to share stories that spanned
decades.
“We’re here to tell the story about how redlining and, eventually, integration played
a major role, not only in businesses but in schools and even beaches,” Hunter said.
“This is just one of several exhibits that we have at the museum.”
Lydia Adjetey, an international student from Ghana majoring in Communication Studies, said the event marks her third celebration at Stockton – and she’s already looking
forward to her fourth.
“The food is amazing, the people are great and the speeches were amazing,” Adjetey
said. “I just love how we all come together as a community every year, you know, same
time and same place, so I’m always here! I look forward to coming to the next one
and inviting some friends next year.”
For Jovin Fernandez, director of the Multicultural Center, this celebration was her first at Stockton. She was excited to contribute to the
celebration and that the center plays a role in educational and historical events
like the June 17 event.
“I was overjoyed to see the number of staff, faculty, administrators and community
members who came out to support us. That support is a testament to the community that
we have at Stockton,” Fernandez said. “I see events like this as a celebration that
acknowledges how far we’ve come, but also a call to action to continue the work of
ensuring equality and justice simultaneously.”
Stockton, Community Commemorate Juneteenth
June 21, 2022
June 17.
Galloway, N.J.- The Stockton community marked Juneteenth with a cookout and celebration in front of
the future Multicultural Center on Friday, June 17.
Christopher Catching, vice president for Student Affairs, welcomed students and community
members to the event and commended Stockton for its progressiveness, noting the new
center will open in Fall 2022.
“It’s my hope that our next Juneteenth program will be slightly different,” Catching
said. “It will be housed within and around the center, and I expect you all to attend.”
The event was organized by Unified Black Student Society (UBSS), African Student Organization
(ASO), Caribbean Student Association (CSA), Stockton’s NAACP chapter, Student Senate,
and the office of Student Development. The celebration is the third held at Stockton
in recent years, inspired by celebrations that originated in Texas, a state that still
had enslaved African Americans two years after the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
Anthony “AJ” Brooks, president of UBSS, said he felt it was important to honor the
day that the remaining enslaved people were finally liberated in 1865.
“Juneteenth is a holiday that is under-recognized throughout the nation and the world,”
Brooks said. “Many do not know the significance of what happened to those slaves and
our event brought together students and people from the community to pay respects
to those who came before us. We thanked them for their sacrifices that led us to this
point as well as discussed what we can do to keep moving forward as a race.”
– Story by Loukaia Taylor
– Photos by Lizzie Nealis
