Sevyn Jones and others from the Livernois Avenue of Fashion recently took on extra work. And they were glad to do it because their efforts will honor Juneteenth and a proud business legacy in Detroit.

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  • Juneteenth is celebrated across the U.S. to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in Texas on June 19, 1865.
  • Detroit business owners view Juneteenth as a celebration of both emancipation and the ongoing pursuit of economic liberation.
  • The Livernois Avenue of Fashion in Detroit held a Juneteenth festival to spotlight local businesses and celebrate the community’s history and culture.

Across the United States on Thursday, June 19, Americans will commemorate Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, Emancipation Day or Jubilee Day. The day traces back to June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, carrying news to the enslaved Africans that they had been freed by the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been signed more than two years earlier.

But on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 18, Detroit native, Dr. Ken L. Harris, president and CEO of The National Business League, said Juneteenth also is associated with another type of quest that has continued after the institution of slavery ended.

“Juneteenth is not just a commemoration of emancipation — it is a living reminder of our unyielding pursuit of economic liberation,” explained Harris, whose organization is the nation’s oldest and largest trade association serving Black businesses. “From the ashes of slavery to the promise of Reconstruction, Black Business Enterprises have always viewed entrepreneurship not simply as a career path, but as a declaration of freedom. And as Detroit businesses have stood resilient in a post-DEI era, they carry forward the torch lit by our ancestors — from the Civil Rights Movement to the current struggle for economic sovereignty.”

And true to Harris’ words, the importance of Juneteenth was expressed this week by business owners along Detroit’s Livernois Avenue of Fashion.

Claudia Morrison Helton, House of Morrison Shoe Repair: Juneteenth is a ‘resounding’ occasion that must be handled with ‘love and care’

“Can you imagine how our ancestors felt when word got down to them that they were free and that there was a celebration to be had which was way overdue?! You can say it was a grand jubilee,” Claudia Morrison Helton, whose family owns House of Morrison Shoe Repair, located at 18933 Livernois, said. “That’s why I say Juneteenth is one of the greatest celebrations that there is, and it has to be resounding to our ancestors.”

Long before Juneteenth became a federal holiday, Helton learned about it while attending college in the Lonestar State at Texas Southern University and Kilgore College.

“I learned that people in small Texas towns started prepping days in advance for Juneteenth. And those meals and the traditional foods, like iced potato cake and pecan pie were cooked with love and care. That’s why this day is so important. We’re celebrating the legacy of our ancestors and everything must be done with love and care, just as they did.”

Sevyn Jones, Skin BarVII: This holiday helps explain ‘where I got my drive and determination from’

The careful preparation that Helton says should be applied to Juneteenth also describes how Sevyn Jones, founder and head esthetician at Skin BarVII, located at 18951 Livernois, goes about bringing together her business district throughout the year. Jones, the president of the South of 7 Livernois Block Club and the Motor City Business Roundtable organization, also was the organizer of the Livernois Avenue Juneteenth Festival, which will celebrate the holiday while spotlighting businesses on the Livernois Avenue of Fashion from West McNichols to 8 Mile Road.

“Juneteenth means culture to me. And when I celebrate, it lets me know where I got my drive and determination from,” Jones stated emphatically. “And we have businesses on the Avenue of Fashion that have been around for a long time — some for 40 to 50 to 60 years — like the House of Morrison’s Shoe Repair, Dixon’s Barbershop, and Hallstarz (Business Center) where people have bought Christmas trees from and taken driver’s training courses for years. So, this business district definitely represents perseverance, which we associate with Juneteenth. And we have a family culture and vibe that is great to celebrate during the holiday.”

Dave Dixon, Dixon’s Barber Shop: ‘There is nothing more important than freedom’

“Juneteenth means a lot to me because it celebrates when our people — slaves in Texas — learned that they were free. And there is nothing more important than freedom,” said Dave Dixon, owner of Dixon’s Barber Shop, located at 18937 Livernois. “I didn’t know about Juneteenth until about three or four years ago, but I have been celebrating it ever since. It’s a great day to celebrate and come together.”

Sofia Sanchez, Dainty: ‘Juneteenth is all about celebration’

“Juneteenth is all about celebration for me,” says Sofia Sanchez, owner of Dainty, which consists of a bodega in the front of the business and a tattoo shop in back that is scheduled to open on July 18 at 18981 Livernois. “It’s all about celebrating your roots. I’m Puerto Rican and I’m really trying to embrace my roots. And I love that there are festivals and celebrations around embracing who we are, what we’ve done, what we’ve come from, and allowing us to do this amongst friends.”

Raeshawn Bumphers, Pink Poodle Bridal: Respect for history is important for families and businesses

“Seeing businesses and families get together for this national holiday, just as we do for other national holidays, is important because Juneteenth is about our history,” said Raeshawn Bumphers, owner of Pink Poodle Bridal, located at 19147 Livernois. “And it was history that brought our business to the Avenue of Fashion. It’s an honor to be here with business owners that have been here for years in the fashion industry.”

On June 19, from noon until midnight, the Juneteenth Holiday and the legacy of the Avenue of Fashion is scheduled to be celebrated during the Livernois Avenue of Fashion Juneteenth Community Festival, a free event, which is open to everyone. Scheduled festival highlights include grand opening ceremonies and ribbon cutting ceremonies for new Black-owned businesses — Pequeno Cantina and Pequeno After Dark, 19331 Livernois; and Jerk At Night, 19163 Livernois; live entertainment and DJs throughout the day and evening; exclusive deals and promotions from local merchants and service providers; food trucks and family-friendly activities; and an opportunity to connect with business owners and explore their stores.

“Our goal is to drive visibility and dollars back into our community,” Jones said. “Juneteenth is the perfect moment to celebrate our progress and strengthen our local economy. And all are invited to join in this dynamic day of celebration, culture, commerce, and community on Livernois Avenue.”

Scott Talley is a native Detroiter, a proud product of Detroit Public Schools and a lifelong lover of Detroit culture in its diverse forms. In his second tour with the Free Press, which he grew up reading as a child, he is excited and humbled to cover the city’s neighborhoods and the many interesting people who define its various communities. Contact him at stalley@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @STalleyfreep. Read more of Scott’s stories at www.freep.com/mosaic/detroit-is/. Please help us grow great community-focused journalism by becoming a subscriber.