Kent State celebrated its fourth Juneteenth Jubilee event with local vendors, live performances, food and music from DJ Smoov Wednesday on the Student Green.
Put together by the Division of People, Culture and Belonging, Brianna Molitor, the project director, said it is important to recognize the holiday, as well as ensuring that everybody on campus has opportunities to be celebrated.
“Our division really focuses on employee engagement and belonging efforts, making sure everybody feels represented on campus,” Molitor said. “The event came out of the university wanting to honor the federal holiday, and also giving us an opportunity to honor our employees who do have personal connections.”
June 19, 1865, commemorates the day when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were finally informed of their freedom, marking a significant moment in United States history. Former President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law on June 17, 2021, officially making Juneteenth a U.S. federal holiday.
Sonya Williams, executive director for university outreach and engagement at Kent State, said she was honored to be the emcee for the celebration.
“This is for my ancestors, for recognition of freedom and for it to be a federal holiday; I had to show up,” Williams said. “Even if I weren’t the emcee, I would have still been here.”
Tana Bankhead, founder of TanTor Cosmetics, said she attended her first Juneteenth event in Kent to show up for the community.
“As a young Black African American woman with a business, I think it’s important to embody what that means: celebrating our freedom and being thankful with the impact we’ve made so far,” Bankhead said.
Kent State President Todd Diacon attended the celebration and reflected on the historical impact of the day.
“You don’t have to be a historian to understand the significance of Juneteenth,” he said.
Diacon emphasized the importance of recognizing both the nation’s achievements while also learning from the past, believing that community gatherings like this can help make Kent State a happier and better place.
“It’s so great to see people here, and it’s just another reason for us to celebrate who we are as a community,” Diacon said.
TRIO Upward Bound at Kent State is a federally funded program that works with ninth through 12th grade students, preparing them for college and providing them with resources to make that transition. Senior director LaDarrius Steele, brought his students to the celebration as an opportunity for them to see campus life outside of the classroom.
“Whether they identify as African American or an ally, just to educate themselves on the Juneteenth holiday and be proud and find a sense of belonging specifically here at Kent State,” Steele said.
Ronshai Jones, a senior communication studies major, has attended the event every summer since he has been at Kent.
“It’s just a good way to connect with a lot of the faculty and staff that’s helped me out,” Jones said.
Celebrating Juneteenth with the university made people feel a sense of community.
“Kent is my home,” Williams said. “To see the trajectory of celebrations and togetherness, it lets us know that the Kent State community values all people.”
Claire Duber is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].
