Kathryn Sears
Williamena Kwapo | OBSERVER Staff Writer
On June 15th, Sacramento’s vibrant Oak Park neighborhood was filled with the joyous sounds of celebration as many gathered at the 40 Acres complex for St. Hope’s fourth annual Juneteenth Block Party.
This event has become a cornerstone of the community’s Juneteenth festivities, growing in size and significance since it was designated a federal holiday in 2021.
For five hours, the neighborhood buzzed with energy, transforming into a hub of cultural pride, unity, and reflection.
The block party kicked off at 4 p.m. with a warm welcome from Dru Burks, a well-known comedian and the Guild Theater Manager with St. Hope. Burks set the tone for the evening, sharing his enthusiasm and gratitude for the community’s support and participation.
“We finally get a federal holiday and we’re finally free,” Burks said. “So this is about gathering community, businesses, and youth together to celebrate Juneteenth and nothing else.”
Over 40 vendors showcased a variety of goods, from handmade jewelry and vibrant clothing to unique art pieces and paintings, reflecting the heritage and entrepreneurial spirit of Sacramento’s Black community.
Entertainment included more than a dozen performers, including youth performers, who graced both the main stage and the smaller 102.5 KSFM stage. Some of the lineup included Sac High Cheer Competition Squad, local rapper Dy4NT, and 80’s all-woman band Klymaxx feat. Cheryl Cooley.
After lighting the crowd up with a few of their songs and serving as the grand finale of the night, a member from Klymaxx, Jasmine “Sarah Tonin” Hegie, spoke to The OBSERVER about the significance of their performance.
“It’s important to celebrate Juneteenth because it helps us never to forget our roots, where we came from, and how far we’ve come since then,” Hegie said. “It’s not only a day of celebration, but a day of reverence to honor those who were here before and honoring their perseverance and strength for us to be where we are at this moment as a people.”
Juneteenth, observed annually on June 19th, commemorates the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
Traditionally, Juneteenth has been a day of reflection, education, and cultural pride within African American communities across the United States. Its significance was nationally recognized when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law on June 17, 2021.
“It’s important for everyone to recognize what it’s about because that’s our history,” said Anita Nolan, an attendee who stayed until the very end of the event.
This was Nolan’s first year attending and said she chose this particular Juneteenth celebration because she was so impressed with the lineup, sponsors, and had heard positive reviews from previous years.
Others shared the same sentiments as Nolan as they learned more about the relevance of Juneteenth and viewed St. Hope’s Juneteenth Block Party as a critical reminder of this historic event and its ongoing relevance.
More Juneteenth celebrations around the city included two days of events hosted by Sacramento Juneteenth, Inc., an educational and health-based organization focused on the importance of African American history.
For 21 years, the organization has hosted Sacramento’s annual Juneteenth event, featuring a parade and festival in William Land Park. The festivities commenced with “Gospel Under the Stars” on June 14th and ended in a festival tribute to Lauren Hammond, the first Black woman elected to the Sacramento City Council. Hammond died on Jan. 18, 2024, at the age of 68.
Gary Simon, Executive Director of Sacramento Juneteenth, Inc., has organized the events since its inception in 2001. For Simon, it serves as a tool to teach history to younger and older generations, aiming to prevent a repetition of the past.
“We had begun to promote Juneteenth as not Black history, but American history,” he recalled from the early years of the celebration, before it gained national recognition as a holiday. “Keeping the historical relevance of Juneteenth has always been our focus.”
Related
Kathryn is the main contributor to the quiz section of LaDailyGazette.com. If you have an idea for a quiz, let us know.