FLINT, MI — Flint will honor its Juneteenth celebration for its 52nd year. But instead of one day of festivities, Traditional Flint Juneteenth Celebration chair DeWaun Robinson wants to see the community fully embrace itself at events throughout the month. The traditional holiday is observed on June 19 because that is the date in 1865 when Union Army Maj.
Gen. Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, and told slaves of their emancipation -- two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Flint is one of several cities across Michigan where Juneteenth is now an official holiday.
However, celebrations in Flint began as early as the 1970s. Leaders and civil rights activists such as the late E. Hill De Loney , founder of Juneteenth celebrations in the city, told MLive-The Flint Journal previously that the importance of acknowledging the day is to teach the Black community about their history, heritage and embrace the future ahead for growth.
“Juneteenth is a part of our liberation. Juneteenth is us actualizing ourselves and being strong. We’re talking about freedom.
Freedom from slavery, we’re talking about Black people,” Robinson, Chief Executive Officer of Artistic Visions Enterprise, said. “Juneteenth is supposed to be something you can educate your children on while spending time together with your family and your community. We need to understand our history, and feel our roots.
“Come to Juneteenth, not only as a cele.
