The Williamstown community joined the NAACP of Gloucester County to celebrate a post-Juneteenth event at Owens Park on June 20.
The celebration was one of many in South Jersey during the month to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.
A variety of vendors offered merchandise for sale, food trucks provided menu items and carnival-style games and pony rides were available.
Among planned activities and performances were the Black national anthem, performed by Leatrice Lambert; the history of Juneteenth, from Gina Burton; musical performances by Trumpet Chics, a student ensemble from the Camden Repertory Theater; and the Prosecutors vs. Game Changers softball game.
Attendees also enjoyed poetry performed by Tiana Jones, also known as “Poetic Grace”; music by DJ “Mike Smoov”; line dancing; open mic sessions; and yoga demonstrations.
During the event program, scholarships were awarded to Sanaa Thomas of Glassboro High School, Brian Carter Grandison of the Gloucester County Institute of Technology and Spencer Cade of Washington Township High School.
Loretta Winters, president of the county NAACP, greeted visitors.
“The reason the NAACP celebrates Juneteenth is because it is our Independence Day,” she explained. “It’s about unity, community and strengthening our bond. It’s about telling our story, and if we don’t tell it, somebody else will tell it for us.
“They’ll give their version of it, which is going to be the wrong version,” Winters added. “That’s what’s happening right now with the current (presidential) administration on the national level, but we’re going to survive as we have survived through the years and through the centuries, and we’re going to be stronger and better for it.”
Cynthia Shabazz, owner of Honey B Diaper Cakes, was among the vendors on hand.
“Today’s event is very important to me,” she noted. “It represents freedom for people, and my business always does well when I come to these events.”
Like Shabazz, Stacy Ferguson, owner of Business Solutions 4 U: Sisterhood Accessories, hoped to build connections with the community.
“I am enjoying the program here, and it’s a community event where I get to sell to my neighbors and the community and it’s so rewarding,” she pointed out. “I want everybody to come out and enjoy it.”
Dr. George J. Scott of Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine was at the event with his medical students to provide blood pressure and blood sugar screenings.
Monique Howard/The Sun
Residents admire flags at Williamstown’s post-Juneteenth event on June 20 at Owens Park.
