Juneteenth: Palmyra, Riverton, Cinnaminson To Join Again in Impactful Celebration
Vendor sales soda and other items at Palmyra Riverton Juneteenth Celebration Saturday, June 19, 2022, at Riverton Park. Photo courtesy of Wanda Swanson and Jim Quinn
AC JosepH Media
PALMYRA – In one of the more unique Juneteenth celebrations in South Jersey, three Burlington County communities will once again come together recognize the end of slavery.
The Palmyra, Riverton and Cinnaminson Juneteenth Celebration Committee, with members from all three municipalities, will hold their Juneteenth festival on Thursday, June 19, from 4-8 p.m. at Chief Payton I. Flournoy Senior Memorial Park in Palmyra, on the corner of Broad Street and Cinnaminson Avenue in Palmyra.
The celebrations rotates annually between the three cities, which is held on June 19, regardless on the day of the week it falls. The rain date this year will be June 20.
“Committee members hope to enlighten the public about the history of Juneteenth and the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S.,” the committee, lead by Michelle Ray, said in a media release.
The committee said its celebration will acknowledge 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.
“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,” the committee said, harkening back to the original family and church celebrations of the holiday in Black communities in Texas and around the country long before it became a state and national holiday.
“The celebrations spread across the South and became more commercialized in the 1920s and 1930s, often centering on food festivals,” the committee said in reliving the history of the holiday.
“Over the decades, many advocated the establishment of Juneteenth as a national holiday. In addition to activist and founder of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, Rev. Ronald V. Myers Sr., M.D. (1956–2018), Texan and community leader Opal Lee, whom many consider the ‘Grandmother of Juneteenth,’ was a driving force in this movement.
In 2020, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation that designated the third Friday in June as the state’s holiday observance. The next year, in 2021, President Biden designated June 19 as a federal holiday.
The committee said it intentionally highlights Black business owners, as financial freedom was and remains a significant factor to the building of Black generational wealth. It said different cuisines will be spotlighted with soul, Caribbean and vegan food options from Fish Fry Wright, Sassa Biene Caribbean Cuisine and Rita’s Water Ice.
“Education of the holiday is vital to ensure all people are aware of the impact of this holiday and the challenges Black Americans continue to face,” the committee said.
PRC plans several activities including an educational puppet show from Nettie, Nana & Friends; performance by the Re-Enactors of Burlington County; significance of the official Juneteenth Flag by local students.
Local organizations such as the Southern Burlington County Chapter of the NAACP will be present with information on community needs and voter registration applications. The University of Penn will be providing free health screenings (children under age need parental consent) and a local church will be providing free healthy food options.
Entertainment will include Eddie Rosado, an Afro-Latino drummer giving a presentation and drum circle instructions to the crowd; dance and drill routines from Amped to Dance and Konglomerate Kweens; and funky grooves from Ain’t Nothing But a Party Band to keep the energy electric, the committee said.
“A significant component of the celebration will be the Land and Ancestral Labor Acknowledgement, a poignant reminder of the contributions and sacrifices of People of Color, specifically African Americans, in the advancement and development of our region,” the committee said.
“Representatives of our local and county government including Palmyra Mayor Gina Tait, Riverton Mayor Jim Quinn and Cinnaminson Mayor Stephanie Kravl.”
The PRC Juneteenth Celebration Committee suggest that everyone bring a lawn chair/ picnic blanket while they immerse themselves in the festivities.
“This event is not only a celebration but a call to action,” the committee said.
Those interested in volunteering can reach out at prcjuneteenthcelebration@gmail.com.
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