Hundreds of local residents gathered at Wood Park on June 19 for a day of dance, celebration, food, live music and educational programs during the annual Palmyra, Riverton and Cinnaminson Juneteenth celebration.
“We are honoring our ancestors and what they went through, breaking barriers for us to be here today,” said Deacon Ruben Rivera of St. Paul Baptist Church, which celebrates its 135th anniversary this year as a place of worship for Cinnaminson residents in the East Riverton neighborhood.
“Today is a wonderful opportunity to spread the Gospel, to spread unity and to spread love,” noted Pastor Dr. Victor Lee, who delivered the celebration’s opening prayer.
“We are honored to participate in the Juneteenth celebration; it keeps growing every year,” observed church administrator Barbara Cobb, who was joined by congregants Sonnie Haskins, Steven White, Robert Cobb, Yvonne Ellis and Rev. Franklin Gosnell to distribute information about the church’s Unity in the Community Day on Saturday, Aug. 15, and a gala black-tie anniversary banquet on Saturday, Oct. 24.
The Club Ebonettes of Cinnaminson manned an information booth directly across a shady path where members Jacquelyn Nichols, president Sandra McGlotten, Sheryl Morton and Lynda Maworocki explained to some attendees how to register to vote and find their polling places.
Founded in 1969, the women’s club sponsors educational programs, works with legislators, addresses housing issues and emphasizes community service, according to McGlotten. It meets once a month at the Civic Center in East Riverton.
“As stated every year, our committee members hope to enlighten the public about the history of Juneteenth, the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States,” stated Michelle Ray, a member of the Palmyra, Riverton and Cinnaminson (PRC) Celebration Committee, which organizes the holiday event every year.
Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021 to mark the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and told slaves there they were free more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863.
“The three towns’ celebration acknowledges those who fought and died for freedom in America, showcasing the overall goal of the holiday to preserve Black history now and in future generations,” Ray emphasized. “It will continue to promise an event filled with rich cultural heritage and community spirit with the fusion of tradition and innovation, catering to all ages.”
Juneteenth was first celebrated in family and church-centered gatherings, evolving into pilgrimages to Galveston Bay by formerly enslaved individuals and their families, according to Ray. The celebrations then spread across the South and became more commercialized in the 1920s and 1930s, often centering on food festivals.
After many years of lobbying to make Juneteenth a national holiday, it became official under President Joe Biden.
“Juneteenth was no longer a whisper in history,” Ray pointed out. “Since that first year (2021), the PRC celebration committee strives to educate all people and cultures with the reason why Black Americans commemorate the economic, mental, physical and spiritual freedom of formerly enslaved people.”
There were plenty of activities at this year’s celebration, including performances by the Lawnside Drill Team, dance and drill routines by Amped to Dance, young rapper Lil Ms Royal, the Ladies of Zeta Delta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and the Ain’t Nothing But a Party Band.
Educational activities included a demonstration by the Reenactors of Burlington County, a historical group headed by Sam Still, director of the Dr. James Still Historic Office Site; and an impassioned speech by Cinnaminson Committeewoman Dr. Corinne Taylor-Walls, the first woman of color on that governing body.
Food trucks were set up in the parking lot, including soul; seafood; Caribbean; and vegan food options from Cesily’s Love Meals, Fish Fry Wright, Sassa Biene Caribbean Cuisine and Vacay Vegan, and cool treats from Ice Dreamz and Rita’s Water Ice.
Youngsters enjoyed the “exciting children’s corner created and curated by our committee member LaKeisha Grimes and packed with fun-filled activities to keep our young attendees busy and interactive,” said Ray, who also thanked committee member Kim Mauroff for enabling Cinnaminson High School students to be a part of the celebration.
Among those was graduate Danny Rodrigues, who delivered the “Land and Ancestral Labor Acknowledgement” presentation about the contributions and sacrifices of people of color. Rising senior Kezia Robinson talked about the significance of the official Juneteenth flag, and senior Jamia Massenburg orated George Moses Horton’s poem, “On Liberty and Slavery.”
Also on hand were Cinnaminson Mayor Ryan Horner, Palmyra Mayor Gina Tait and Riverton Mayor Jim Quinn.
“This event is not only a celebration, but a call to action,” observed Ray, who said anyone interested in volunteering for the Juneteenth committee can contact prcjuneteenthcelebration@gmail.com.
Enjoying the Palmyra, Riverton and Cinnaminson Juneteenth celebration on June 19 at Wood Park are Club Ebonettes Yvonne Ellis, Barbara Cobb, Jacquelyn Nichols, club president Sandra McGlotten, Sheryl Morton and Lynda Maworocki.
Celebrating Juneteenth and the 135th anniversary of St. Paul Baptist Church are Robert Cobb (left to right), Sonnie Haskins, Steven White, Pastor Dr. Victor Lee, Barbara Cobb, Yvonne Ellis, Rev. Franklin Gosnell and Deacon Ruben Rivera during the Palmyra, Riverton and Cinnaminson Juneteenth Celebration at Wood Park.
