The Elmont Cultural Center hosted their 5th annual Juneteenth celebration on June 14 in the parking lot outside of Elmont Road Park, acknowledging the rich culture of the community and honoring Black history.
Juneteenth, which occurs each year on June 19, marks the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to declare the Emancipation Proclamation. While the document, issued by President Abraham Lincoln, went into effect in 1863, the Confederacy asserted the proclamation was null in their territory, claiming states’ rights to uphold the institution of slavery.
However, the arrival of Union troops, tasked with militarily enforcing the emancipation of all slaves, denoted the proclamation as an executive decree.
Juneteenth is commonly referred to as the official date in which the slaves were freed. It has been celebrated annually since 1866 — the name “Juneteenth” first appearing in print in 1890 — and was first recognized as a federal holiday in 2021. It continues to be recognized each year.
“Juneteenth means unity,” Glenovia Thompson said. “It means freedom. It means empowerment, and our cultural legacy.”
Thompson, a local entertainment manager and founder of Play.Wit.Rox Entertainment LLC, known by the community as “ROXy,” said recognizing Juneteenth as a federal holiday shows progress in acknowledging Black history and what freedom from slavery truly means to the community. Thompson said she views Juneteenth as the true Independence Day.
The arts, a huge part of cultural expression, were a poignant focus of the Saturday event. Music and dances from different cultures filled the park with energetic rhythms and powerful performances.
“I think it’s important to celebrate Juneteenth because in a way, slaves shaped our nation,” Kensington Botchway, 9, said. “If you forget about Juneteenth and the slaves and everything, you basically forget who you are.”
Kensington, one of this year’s clothing vendors assisted by her mother, Kindale Botchway, said she loves celebrating the holiday with the community. Kindale said Kensington asks to celebrate the holiday each year since it’s become federally recognized.
From the time Kensington was 6-years-old, Kindale said, Kensington has been very concerned about Nassau County’s homeless population. Kindale’s daughter, inspired by her own experience receiving donated goods from caring neighbors, wondered if she could donate clothing and items she no longer uses to support those who do not have access to those things.
“I was just touched by the fact that at such a young age, she would think like that,” Kindale said of her daughter’s idea. “So, we just started doing that.”
Since then, Kensington and her mother began giving back to the community through clothing donations.
According to the mother and daughter, Kensington’s vision to support her community closely aligns with the values of Juneteenth. Kensington said the spirit of giving back honors the many contributions slaves have made to this country.
“It’s about starting from something small,” Kindale added. “Like a contribution that can be overlooked. And just as many times as we’ve overlooked contributions in our country, we end up taking for granted the freedoms and luxuries we have, like clothing.”
Aside from the deeper meaning the holiday holds for both Kensington and Kindale, the event itself is an opportunity for them to interact with the community and let their neighbors know that the two are there for them.
And, Kensington said, it’s just a fun time. The food, music, games and all the other vendors make the event one of her favorites, she said.
Elmont celebrates the holiday with festivities including live performances, a DJ, vendors, food trucks, family activities, games, arts, fashion and more.
This year’s sponsors included the Elmont Alumni Network, New York Communities for Change, A Christian Production Studios, Ridgewood Savings Bank, the Grigoropoulos Law Group, Home Health Aide Training Institute Inc., Devi Shiwnath, 1199SEIU, You’re Our Unity, Elmont Key Club and more.
The event also featured performances by the Elmont Memorial High School marching band, painter Thalia BC, neo-soul artist Elee James, pop artist Brad Avie, Caribbean artist Klean Zoe, singer Shonna Jones-Washington, Rebekah Sievers, R&B artist OneTakeCarter and a special appearance by Mama Jones from VH1’s Love and Hip Hop and Shani Kulture from Hot 97.
Patricia Justin, a teacher at Elmont Memorial High School and student advisor of the Elmont Key Club, said the event is a hit with student volunteers. While the kids volunteer for three-hour shifts, she said they often stay for the entire event because they have so much fun.
“Oh, they love it,” Justin said. “The kids kind of get to participate in the fun, so they enjoy doing the event.”
Justin, who has been teaching at Elmont Memorial for over 30 years and has served as student advisor for over 20 years, said the Key Club has supported the Elmont Cultural Center event since it began in 2021. The fact that the community as a whole — including kids, teens and adults — can interact with each other and be part of a huge event fosters connections in the community that leave a lasting impact.
“They’re learning to give back to the community,” Justin said. “It’s really just a positive experience.”
That is precisely what Thompson believes Juneteenth is all about.
In the future, Thompson also hopes to see more education around the topic of slavery and the subsequent abolition of it. Between the rising temperature of the political climate, and the growing anxiety in the community as a result, she said it is important for communities like Elmont to focus on things like mental health resources.
For now, she said, Juneteenth is a source of joy and unity for the community, serving as a reminder of the slaves’ liberation — something she said calls for reverence.
“This is how we’re going to pass this down from generation to generation,” Thompson said. “We have so many community leaders that can help shape our future. Connecting is necessary to uplift each other. We should use our voices and empower the community.”
