‘Makes my heart smile’: Abilene Juneteenth celebrators speak on importance of day abolishing slavery
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Stevenson Park in northeast Abilene was packed with revelers for two days straight this week as celebrations continue. Visitors flocked together to celebrate Juneteenth, commemorating the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas were finally informed of their emancipation two years after slavery was federally abolished in the United States. Abilene attendees ages say the freedom to come together and celebrate is the perfect sign of how that day continues to impact their lives more than a century-and-a-half later.
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“Juneteenth means to me, ‘freedom,'” said Dakkia Morris, owner-operator of The Barber Next Door. “Freedom for the culture… What comes with that freedom, we’re able to do what we need open businesses that we want, create financial stability for the younger generation.”
Morris came out to the park alongside her employees and friends so that they could add to the days’ offering. Those offerings included haircuts completely free of charge to whomever asked.
“This is the way we’re able to give back to our community, our culture… There’s so much power in a hair cut. A haircut can change your mood, can change your attitude,” Morris shared.
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Attitudes being changed one clip at a time, and everyone in attendance agreeing that time with community is always well spent. Younger attendees like Zye’Lynn Allen, Chassidy Van Zandt, Qua’von Barrow, and Zociah Howard each expressed their pure joys in getting to connect with other kids and enjoy some time together.
“I love to support people, come out here for Juneteenth and make new friends,” smiled Zye’Lynn.
“[Juneteenth means] Celebrating the freedom for my people,” Chassidy remarked. “Like, it doesn’t matter the race or nothing… Everybody can come out here and celebrate Juneteenth without it being a problem, and it should always be like that.”
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Organized by Let Us Breathe Abilene, the event offered food, fun, music, face painting, and everything else you need to leave the park feeling better than when you entered. It’s an experience that can be felt all across North America since the holiday was federally recognized in 2021.
“[It] Makes my heart smile. It just makes me happy all around. I’m so so happy that it’s celebrated nationwide now,” added Morris.
In addition to all those events, the Abilene Juneteenth celebration 2024 also hosted a kids zone of bouncy castles and games; a kickball game between the community youth and Dyess airmen; a ‘freedom’ run & walk; music by DJ Skidd, DJ Bigg, and LAdy Devine; and junior ‘dummy steer’ roping.
For more information on Juneteenth and Abilene’s rich black history you can inquire at the Let Us Breathe house, or the city’s premier black history museum, the Curtis House Cultural Center.
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