Juneteenth: Energy of Atlantic City Festival Felt for Blocks Beyond Waterfront Park
Atlantic City residents are welcomed by a "Happy Juneteenth" sign at the Ubuntu the Community Juneteenth Community Cookout at the Oscar McClintock Waterfront Park in Atlantic City on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Photo by Meredith Winner/Mer-Made Photography.
BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media
ATLANTIC CITY – From several blocks away, one could feel the energy of the Juneteenth Celebration put on by the nonprofit Ubuntu the Community on Thursday, June 19 at Oscar McClintock Waterfront Park, next to the Atlantic City Boardwalk.
That feeling was intentional, according to organizers led by founder and President Nefertiti Hathaway. In its eighth year, Hathaway’s organization began holding Juneteenth celebrations on the actual day of recognition, before it became a state and national holiday.
While Ubuntu the Community’s celebration is not officially sanctioned by the City of Atlantic City as its Juneteenth holiday, it remains fully embraced as if it were. Atlantic City council’s vice president Kaleem Shabazz, who is also president of the local NAACP, was spotted mingling among the large crowd.
“It just keeps getting bigger every year — they just keep showing up,” Hathaway told Front Runner New Jersey as she looked over the crowd’s energetic celebration before a strong thunderstorm swept in and cut short the final hour of the event.
“I think it’s being able to recognize Juneteenth that gets the people out,” she continued. “When we first started doing this, it wasn’t recognized [as a holiday]. Now that it is, everyone seems to be looking for a way to celebrate it.
READ: Ubuntu Has Special Meaning For Nefertiti Hathaway
“We are one of the few organizations that put on an event on the exact day of Juneteenth year after year, so I think the community wants to celebrate that. I just want to thank the community. Looking at all of these people, I’m so happy and grateful to be called to do this work. This is amazing!”
Shakimah Williams and her mother Wanda Williams came down from Philadelphia as vendors for hot food items, such as jerk chicken wings, chicken kabobs, greens, yellow rice, baked beans and other items. The caterer, who runs Sissy’s Kitchen of Soul, said she sold out of nearly everything.
Shakimah Williams said her dream is to cater full-time and eventually open her own store. Judging by the crowd’s reaction — festivalgoers could be seen munching on her chicken wings and other dishes throughout the event — she may have struck a chord.
“We came out here to enjoy ourselves and have fun with the community, as well serve our food so they can start to support me through my journey,” Shakimah Williams said.
With her mother’s support, Shakimah Williams said she “travels all over the place” to festivals to spread the word about her business.
At the other end of the park, Pud’s Pudding was selling banana pudding for the first time. The owner said pudding sales were brisk and they were happy with the results.
In all, 14 vendors enjoyed attention from visiting customers who came from all around Atlantic City, many of whom walked from their homes to the park.
“I hope they all sold out,” Hathaway said in support of the businesses.
The neighborhood and supporting spirit is what makes the Juneteenth event at McClintock Park a unique experience among other celebrations, she said.
Follow Us Today On:
Note from AC JosepH Media: If you like this story and others posted on Front Runner New Jersey.com, lend us a hand so we can keep producing articles like these for New Jersey and the world to see. Click on SUPPORT FRNJ and make a contribution that will go directly in making more stories like this available. Thank you for reading!
About Author
