Volunteers revive Juneteenth celebration

Volunteers with Community Empowerment Network of Hot Springs will hold a celebration today in advance of Juneteenth, a tradition that the organizers say faded from Hot Springs more than five years ago.

Juneteenth celebrates the date Union soldiers enforced the Emancipation Proclamation freeing all remaining slaves in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, according to the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation.

The Community Empowerment Network has planned a fashion show, food vendors and live music at the 200 block of

Gulpha Street for noon today.

James Lowery, founder of the Community Empowerment Network of Hot Springs, said he hopes the event will live up to the old tradition and spread awareness about its historical significance. He said while others in town have celebrated the date, none have tried to revive the event on this scale.

“It’s not about race. Race divides and culture unites. This event is cultural and is about celebrating African-American culture,” he said.

Lowery said he often feels like race separates people in the community from learning new ideas about culture and exchanging views.

“It’s shocking that Juneteenth is not taught in school or even in history. We feel like it’s time to start making (Juneteenth) known and hopefully getting it recognized as a city holiday,” he said.

Lowery said he believes not many people are aware that, even three years after emancipation, slavery was still being practiced in various states.

“We see Juneteenth being widely celebrated, especially in Little Rock, but we want people to pull together for it in Hot Springs,” he said.

Veronica Cargile, co-organizer of the event, said she is working to find her voice in the community and hopped on the opportunity to help with the event.

“I only learned about Juneteenth two years ago, but after I did I stopped celebrating July Fourth,” she said. “Juneteenth is more important to me, though the Fourth celebrates independence, so many black people were still slaves. Juneteenth celebrates true freedom.”

Cargile said, like Lowery, she hopes to see the day become a national holiday.

“I hope to see everyone getting along and not being judged,” Cargile said. “The more our city works together and contributes service the better Hot Springs will become. I really hope after this year the tradition will gain momentum again.”

Union (Missionary) Baptist Church placed a Juneteenth “disclaimer” advertisement in Friday’s edition of the newspaper, saying its Life Center will only serve as a “cooling center” for today’s event.

“We are not connected with the celebration,” the ad stated.