FAYETTEVILLE -- A large, diverse crowd gathered for the 19th annual Northwest Arkansas Juneteenth celebration Saturday at The Gardens at The University of Arkansas on Razorback Road, enjoying freshly grilled burgers, family games and inflatables and the sounds of live R&B and Jazz.
Juneteenth, or June 19, is recognized as America's second Independence Day and the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States and has become a way to also celebrate African American achievement and encourage continuous self-development.
"One of the things we focus on here is making sure we get together as a community to learn and get to know each other," said Danielle Wood-Williams, co-chairman of the Juneteenth Celebration Committee and university director for the Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance. "We also want to focus on things that are important, specifically to the African-American community, like health and wellness."
Between grabbing some ice cream and maybe shooting some hoops, visitors walked through the university library's tent with photo displays of black Arkansans like the "Dean" of African-American composers William Grant Still and the Little Rock Nine. Many of the 24 vendors and exhibitors focused on community engagement and health.
Less than 3 percent of Northwest Arkansas' population is African-American, according to the latest U.S. census estimates. This makes it even more critical for those trying to reach the black community to come to these events, vendors said.
The NWA Community Clinic was there with medical and dental providers conducting screenings, such as measuring blood pressure and addressing general medical questions. All services were free and open to anyone.
"Even though this [holiday] historically is centered around African-American heritage and culture, this event is for the public, because we want people to know the history of Juneteenth and to understand the African American community, Wood-Williams said.
Even before the Juneteenth was officially recognized as a state memorial day by the Arkansas Legislature in 2006, the Northwest Arkansas celebration began on the University of Arkansas campus and has continued to grow into a larger event each year, not just for blacks in the community but for all to celebrate diversity and inclusion, Wood-Williams said.
"No matter what the color of your skin, your religious belief, what country you come from or who you love, we are one community," Mayor Lioneld Jordan said, "and events like this emphasize what we stand for and who we are."
NW News on 06/18/2017