Juneteenth at Six Points: Celebrating Youth and Freedom
by Charles McGuigan 07.2021
At Six Points Juneteenth celebration.
On Juneteenth at Six Points in Highland Park, the streets were closed off as hundreds gathered to celebrate what is often called Second Independence Day. Whether you call it Juneteenth or Freedom Day or Jubilee Day or Cel-Liberation Day or Emancipation Day, this day commemorates that singular event that occurred on Galveston Island, Texas more than a century and a half ago. With the reading of General Order No. 3, more than 250,000 men, women, and children were given the “unalienable rights” guaranteed in the Declaration of Independence, giving substance to the promises made on July 4 at Carpenters’ Hall in Philadelphia as a new nation was being born.
“It’s finally a federal holiday, thanks to President Joe Biden,” says Valerie Slater, executive director of RISE For Youth. “It took two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed for federal troops to arrive in Texas to declare the slaves were free. It’s taken more than a hundred and fifty years for the government to finally acknowledge this significant holiday of independence.”
Valerie and Iyana Scroggins, who is a member of RISE For Youth, are standing near Fire House 15 where food and beverages are being served to a receptive crowd.
“This is our first annual Juneteenth Youth Talent Showcase and Block Party,” Valerie says. “We want this community to understand what youth can do when they are given the opportunity and the resources. We want the community to realize that our young people are so much more than their worst moment. And in their best moments we ought to be celebrating them and creating more opportunities for them.”
Left to right, Iyana Scroggins and Valerie Slater.
Iyana was one of many other members of RISE For Youth who made the Juneteenth Block Park a reality. “We try to give back to the community and get our message out there,” Iyana tells me. “For this event I helped out with the planning. I did a little bit of everything just like everybody else from RISE For Youth. We all put in. We did all the recruiting. This whole thing was planned by the youth.”
Valerie, smiling as Iyana speaks, nods along with her words. “Our young people called everyone and invited them to participate,” Valerie says. “They followed up to make sure that our performers knew when their time slots would be. It started at noon and lasts till three. And as you can see, it’s been a great success. All thanks to our youth.”
“RISE For Youth stands for reinvest in supportive environments for youth,” says Valerie. “Mission accomplished.”
Just then a group of young women, taking center stage, begin a spirited dance routine that has the crowd cheering and applauding. Then, Valerie Slater adds this:” So we had to come loud, come strong, declare youth are the future, and we are going to keep our kids free.”