MLK Committee celebrates Juneteenth
Area youth speak from the McCosh Park Amphitheater to attendees of the Juneteenth celebration about what the holiday means to them.
COURTESY PHOTO/MOSES LAKE MLK COMMITTEE
Members of the Moses Lake MLK Committee and the Moses Lake Museum of Art pose for a photo in McCosh Park, where the Juneteenth celebration was held on Saturday.
A member of the Moses Lake MLK Committee waves at the camera and smiles during the Juneteenth festivities. She is wearing a shirt that says “Juneteenth 1865,” the anniversary of the official end of slavery in Texas, the last state to be fully informed of the Confederacy and freedom for slaves there.
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Martin Luther King Jr. Committee commemorated a milestone in American history with a Juneteenth celebration June 17 at McCosh Park. The festivities included dancing, music, poetry, exhibits and games.
“(Juneteenth) recognizes the contribution and struggles of African Americans in the United States, and it commemorates the end of slavery and the beginning of a new era of freedom,” wrote Miranda Bridges, vice president of the Moses Lake MLK Committee, said via email. “Juneteenth also serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight for racial equality and justice. It is a time for reflections, education and celebration of African American culture and history.”
The event, sponsored by the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center, mixed celebration and serious reflection. The MLK Committee spoke about the anniversary, according to Bridges. There was also music, dancing, games, poetry readings, and raffle prizes. The museum brought several informative displays and exhibits about Juneteenth and the anniversary it honors.
The Dreamers in Action, a local youth group and choir, also spoke to the crowd about what Juneteenth meant to them. The youth also helped with running the games, face painting, popcorn makers and snow cone machines.
“We are thrilled to have such a diverse and vibrant group of visitors and friends here to celebrate with us today,” said Bridges in a written copy of her speech. “Whether you are here to learn more about Juneteenth, to share your own stories and experiences, or simply to enjoy the festivities, we hope that you will find this event to be a meaningful and rewarding experience.”
According to her email, Bridges’ speech to attendees at the Centennial Amphitheater explained a bit about the origins of Juneteenth and why it is important to remember and reflect on the holiday. Juneteenth marks the anniversary of the order from U.S. Army Major General Gordon Granger proclaiming freedom for enslaved people in Texas, on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
Juneteenth has been celebrated for decades in many communities and cities across the United States, and has gained mainstream attention since the 1980s and ’90s. It became an official Washington state holiday in April 2021, one month before it was made an official federal holiday.
Gabriel Davis may be reached via email at gdavis@columbiabasinherald.com.
