As members of the community gathered at the Bishop Frank O. White Park last Saturday for a day of games, music and fun, members of the Freeport-Roosevelt National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) were doing more than celebrating Juneteenth.
The members were helping lead the event, continuing a long tradition of civic engagement and learning about their history that it will be passed on to future generations.
The Juneteenth celebration brought together residents of all ages for an afternoon of fun activities, including basketball, face paint, an open mic, a dance contest, free refreshments and a raffle.
Juneteenth recognizes June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, when enslaved African Americans learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. The holiday is significant because it celebrates freedom and preserves history.
Founded in 1909, the NAACP serves as a leading voice in the fight for civil rights, promoting voting rights, educational opportunities and social justice through advocacy and community outreach programs.
Jared Bermudez, president of the Freeport-Roosevelt NAACP Youth Council, said the organization helps young people prepare for future success through education, advocacy and volunteering.
“The Youth Council’s responsibility is to push the youth to advocate and to also go into the most advantageous position they can get into,” Bermudez said. “By putting them into scholarship opportunities and volunteering opportunities, we allow them to get better chances of getting into colleges and better education.”
Bermudez said events like the Juneteenth celebration help ensure that important parts of history are remembered.
“History has a tendency to be erased and forgotten,” he said. “If we don’t take on the obligation of remembering it and having events like this to help the community not only remember, but also celebrate it, we are going to forget it.”
He added that understanding the past is essential to building a successful future. “We need to remember the past, the past in which we weren’t free. Without remembering something like this, we wouldn’t be able to move forward with a brighter future.”
Former Youth Council President Amarhi Vassell said giving young people leadership positions creates opportunities for more community engagement.
“I always feel as though it’s important to have the youth leading events in the community,” Vassell said. “This is so there are youth who are interested in furthering community engagement and getting more involved.”
Vassell also emphasized how Juneteenth celebrations allow young people to connect with history in a meaningful way.
“By having youth present to celebrate and acknowledge that history, it furthers our understanding of history and allows us to carry it with us into the future,” he said. “It’s important to know where you came from to understand better where you’re going.”
Vassell noted that similar events like Saturday’s help strengthen relationships across generations.
“It really helps us connect that inter-generational gap,” he said. “We can all meet, enjoy each other’s presence and learn from one another.”
Youth Council advisor Allois Douse said those relationships often have a lasting impact on students’ futures.
“It’s their opportunity to learn about the community,” Douse said. “You get more accurate information when you talk to the community.”
She added that many former Youth Council members have gone on to attend Ivy League schools and historically Black colleges and universities. “When they see the other youth are doing it, they realize it’s possible,” Douse said.
Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy said the Youth Council’s involvement benefits students and the community.
“The NAACP is a great organization,” Kennedy said. “We develop a better relationship with the youth at a very early age.”
Members said they hoped attendees would leave with a greater understanding and appreciation for Juneteenth. The NAACP continues to serve the community by hosting events, educating residents and volunteers and advocating for civil rights.
