AUSTIN, Texas — The 36th annual Juneteenth celebration by Travis County was marked by a theme of “Still We Rise,” as participants gathered to commemorate the day Texas slaves learned of their emancipation.
The event featured a presentation of arms by the 9th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers of Austin-Travis County and the singing of the Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
Sgt. Selton Williams, president of the 9th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers of Austin, emphasized the significance of freedom for Texas Black slaves.
“Without the freedom of Texans, Texas black slaves wouldn’t be Buffalo Soldiers, because Texas Buffalo Soldiers are black soldiers,” said Williams.
Brianna McBride, a policy advisor for Precinct 3 Commissioner Ann Howard, reflected on the theme.
“I think it means that there’s still a lot of work to do,” McBride said, and added, “it really means to me that, you know, we’re standing on the shoulders of those people.”
Imani Anu of IFA Dancing & Drum, and Reclaim, noted the importance of accurate historical representation, saying, “it’s a time when there is a lot of misinformation out there about history.”
Anu says it meant a lot to her to perform at this year’s celebration while recanting her own personal family history and the strength she derives.
“It means a whole lot, number one, to be among the community, sharing real history and celebrating the successes of our ancestors,” she said. “And so that kind of perseverance, the fact that we can endure the forced extraction of our labor and those horrid circumstances, even during the time that we were legally free from that bondage, says a lot about what’s rooted in our DNA.”
It is that courage that keeps Anu, and others, going in the face of what’s happening in the world today.
Despite Juneteenth being recognized as a federal holiday since 2021, former President Trump did not acknowledge the holiday, instead commenting on Truth Social about “too many non-working holidays in America.”
Anu responded to such remarks, stating, “I don’t give a lot of thought to the statements that are made out of that office because even though some things might be said to distract and cause despair for us.”
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Sgt. Williams added, “the timing is not opportune, but we have to prevail. We just have to prevail.”
Anu concluded with a message of hope and perseverance, saying, “we shouldn’t let despair hold us for too long. Still we rise, always.”
The celebration served as a reminder of the resilience and strength needed both today and in the future.
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