Over one hundred people gathered at Kent State Friday for the university’s third annual celebration of Juneteenth.

Kent State’s Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion coordinated the event, which ran from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and was open to the public.

Officially named a federal holiday in 2021, Juneteenth represents the freedom of over 250,000 enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865–due to a lack of military personnel available to enforce the emancipation, African Americans in Texas were not freed until two years after the rest of the country.

“I’d like to have a moment of silence for those lives that were lost before we could officially celebrate our freedom in this country,” said event host Archie Green.

The celebration started with music by Mwatabu Okantah & Friends, followed by Barefeet Dance Tribe, Archie Green, and Peel Dem Layers Back. The night ended with an audience participation session, run by Zumba dance group Nola Movement.

The event featured a multitude of local vendors, food trucks and a variety of live music and dancing groups-such as Barefeet Dance Tribe, which consists of elementary to college level students, who said their goal is to educate others about different cultures. 

“This is the first Afrobeats Dance Team on campus,” NiAmbi Fagan, assistant coordinator and director, said. “During workshops, we use it as an educational moment because we teach where the movements and music comes from.”

The celebration also featured a multitude of African American owned businesses, such as the Grill Master food truck, run by Andre Frazier.

“I’ve been running this business for six or seven years now,” Frazier said. “It’s always important to support your people and their cause, especially if you’re African American. For me, I just want to make people happy and food always does that trick.”

Along with the vendors, student-run organizations flocked the scene and had tables up showing their support for Juneteenth.

“I think this is extremely important to celebrate because for a long time, it wasn’t celebrated,” Julian Grimes, President of Black United Students, said. “The fact that a predominately white school like Kent State University stands with us and supports black students, faculty and staff members that walk on campus [is validating].”

Amoaba Gooden, Vice President of Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion helped organize the event. According to their website, the division’s main goal is to improve diversity and inclusivity on Kent State campuses.

“It’s more than a celebration,” Gooden said. “It’s about freedom and resilience, moving forward and honoring the past.”

Destiny Torres is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].