African American News & Issues
Marin City Celebrates Juneteenth in this Historic Year
Many people and performers came out to make this celebration possible. Oshalla Diana Marcus hosted and organized the celebration. The Marin City Community Services District (MCCDC), the Marin Community Foundation, Marin County Parks, and MC Arts and Culture helped sponsor the event.
Many people attended Marin City’s 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration, which was held at the Rocky Graham Park in Marin City on Saturday, June 19, 2021. The theme this year was “It Takes a Village.”
There was much to celebrate at this year’s Juneteenth, which commemorates when Black people enslaved in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, finally learned that the Civil War had ended and that they were free. This happened two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863.
This year’s Juneteenth celebration also came after the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic was lifted and people can now go out and meet each other without the need for masks and social distancing, and President Joe Biden signed a bill on June 17 establishing Juneteenth as a national holiday.
Many people and performers came out to make this celebration possible. Oshalla Diana Marcus hosted and organized the celebration. The Marin City Community Services District (MCCDC), the Marin Community Foundation, Marin County Parks, and MC Arts and Culture helped sponsor the event.
The celebration featured a children’s play area, a food court behind the park, horse rides for children and adults, and vendors selling food, services and art.
Marcus talked about “Roots” in the beginning of the program. The other people who spoke were: Stephania on “The Journey,” Yaya on “The Village,” Trevor on “Self Determination,” R.I.P. Reflections: “Remembering our Fallen Warriors,” and Kiki Latrice on “Keep On Livin.”
The music and drama groups included the First Missionary Baptist Church Praise Team, the Griot Theater Company, Art is Health Ensemble, and James Henry’s band “Hands on Fire.”
Chauntina Thomas performed as a vocalist.
Jasmine McDonald, Keldamuzik, Jaiana, Jay Tunes Marley, Laso, Honey, and H2O performed Hip Hop.
MC Red, and Tzmiami performed rap. Kyle performed Neo Soul. Ana performed Hip Rhythm Flow. Chase Banks performed Conscious Rap.
A question was asked during the Celebration, “What does people think about the Juneteenth Festival becoming a Federal Holiday?” Here are a few responses.
Chauntina Thomas, singer and performer, said that she “feels seen” and her Black ethnic identity has been recognized.
Darrell Roary, from the MCCDC, said the Juneteenth festival brings the community together, and it was well overdue to make it a federal holiday. Roary hopes that other cultures will embrace it as not just a ‘Black Thing’ but something meaningful to all.
Etienne Douglas from the Marin City Library said that holiday is a good thing, but Black History must also be taught. Part of the problem is that Black history is not being taught but instead American history with the difficult parts omitted, such as the1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
Lisa Bennett, Sausalito activist, wrote “Black folks have celebrated Juneteenth for years and I’m glad that it is now recognized as a federal holiday; it elevates a part of history which is often overlooked. My fear is that by acknowledging Juneteenth there will be no further advancement toward true liberation, toward true reparations, toward a true acknowledgment of the wisdom and brilliance and contributions of African Americans, that the holiday will be considered enough. It is not enough.”
