By BEN HICKEY
WAKEFIELD—Every year, communities across the country come together in celebration of Juneteenth, a day that honors resilience and liberation.
Juneteenth marks the day when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was made official. Since that day, many events, gatherings and other celebrations have taken place.
Yesterday, in Wakefield, there was a small gathering of people outside the Americal Civic Center. The event promoted awareness of the holiday and shed light on the importance of unity and coming together as one.
At the gathering were wonderful guest speakers — Kashwan Little, Janey David, Michelle La Poetica and the Lynn English MC ROTC. In an interview with Michelle La Poetica, she shared her thoughts on the turnout from yesterday’s event.
“It’s not about the quantity. It’s about the quality. It’s about people that are open-hearted. People that are here because they really care. It could be two people in the crowd and that’s all that matters,” La Poetica explained.
La Poetica also explained the purpose of these events and of the promotional awareness they spread to those that go and support. “The idea is to embolden people. To empower them and to be loved. Because nobody can do it alone. And we need to bring that village mentality back because it really does take a village.”
During her speech, La Poetica shared a metaphor about how people willing to do what is right are like lighthouses that shine their light on ships out at sea that have trouble finding their way home. La Poetica had this to say when asked about the metaphor: “Nobody should feel like they don’t belong, like they don’t fit. Nobody should be unsafe. This is not just about Juneteenth, it’s about community. It’s about true freedom for people to love who they want to love, be who they want to be, chase the careers and dreams they want without fear of being told ‘no’.”
La Poetica went on to say that in today’s modern world many people would rather stay silent on certain issues than voice their opinion and be proud of it. “A lot of times, people will keep their mouths shut out of fear of losing their jobs or their positions.”
Both Little and La Poetica shared poems and speeches about love, truth and uniting as one while David shared her wonderful vocals with the crowd and made everyone present feel as though they were connected to each other. David sang the traditional song, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” David has performed this song several times before, but shared that her connection to it and deeper understanding of its message didn’t start until she performed it again in 2020.
“I had heard the song before, but had never really understood what it was about until, I’d say closer to 2020 when I ended up doing it for Black History Month. Each year I feel more connected to it.” David explained.
“It turns into more of a conversation than a performance, when I first started doing it, people would say ‘Oh, could you perform the Black National Anthem?’ I don’t like to look at it as a performance. I think it’s more of a connection. It’s a lesson and it’s a message. Music is like history, it’s a way to learn history.”
The Wakefield Human Rights Commission sponsored the event, which featured the North Shore Juneteenth Association. Association President and Founder Nicole McClain spoke at another community’s ceremony and was unable to attend the one here.