2024’s Juneteenth celebration held at courthouse park (photos inside)

(Photo provided by Timothy A. Bennett, Owner & Publisher of The Cortland Voice).

The fourth annual Juneteenth celebration was held at courthouse park in the city of Cortland on Saturday.

The event was hosted by the Cortland County Community of Color (C4). C4 is a collaborative initiative between SUNY Cortland and Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3).

Saturday’s event was co-sponsored by SUNY Cortland, Tompkins Cortland Community College and the Central NY Foundation. C-4 provided a list of key names who assisted with the event. C4’s committee consists of Lorraine Lopez-Janove, Chief Diversity Officer at SUNY Cortland; Katrina Hodge, Assistant Director of Multicultural Life and Diversity at SUNY Cortland; Seth Thompson, Interim VP of Student Affairs & Senior Diversity Officer at Tompkins Cortland Community College; Regina Grantham, Associate Professor Emeritus at SUNY Cortland; Kharmen Wingard, Assistant Director of EOP at SUNY Cortland; Charlotte Wade, Assistant Diversity Officer at SUNY Cortland; and Timothy A. Bennett, Owner & Publisher of the Cortland Voice.

A word from one of the event’s lead organizers

Lead event organizer, Katrina Hodge expressed that she felt that “(the event) this year was absolutely amazing”.

She continued by saying, “I think our Juneteenth celebration really demonstrated unity and community.”

According to Hodge, “ a little over 100 people” attended the event throughout the day.

A word from an attendee and vendor

Steve Williams, a vendor at the Juneteenth event, was present on behalf of SPLAT! Sumthin’ – a splatter paint room in the city of Cortland.

Steve Williams. (Photo provided by Timothy A. Bennett, Owner & Publisher of The Cortland Voice).

Williams said he is glad to see the local Juneteenth event in its fourth year.

“This event has grown a lot, in terms of how vendors go,” Williams said. “There’s a lot of different people and groups out here. It has a community feel to it. It’s important for our county to understand how important Juneteenth is to its black and brown residents.”

Steve Williams. (Photo provided by Timothy A. Bennett, Owner & Publisher of The Cortland Voice).

Williams described his new business venture as, “a place for people to come make messes and masterpieces in the name of art. Basically, you’re having a good time ‘splatting stuff’,” Williams said.

A Brief History of Juneteenth (via the C4 Facebook page)

On June 19, we reflect on and celebrate the freedom and independence of African-Americans in America and around the world. Juneteenth was first celebrated in Texas in 1865 and has since spread across the United States and worldwide. This day is celebrated nationwide as a day of hope, remembrance, and motivation.

Why is Juneteenth celebrated on the 19 of June, instead of September 22, when President (Abraham) Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation? It was on June 18 that the Union Army marched into Galveston, Texas, and enforced President Lincoln’s emancipation. Since then, celebrations in Galveston have been among the largest Juneteenth celebrations in the world.

Now a national holiday, seeing the support of this day from other community members shows Black Americans that they no longer need to struggle or fight for equity alone.

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