Standing up for ancestors, at Juneteenth event
FREMONT ― Cassandrea Tucker says that while Juneteenth is a day to celebrate, there remain challenges to overcome.
The president of the Fremont chapter of the NAACP was the guest speaker Thursday for "What Juneteenth Means to You," at Spiegel Grove and the Hayes Presidential center.
Hayes Presidential and the Fremont NAACP also teamed to showcase students’ artwork, sharing what Juneteenth ― recognized June 19 ― means to them.
Tucker had recently visited the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, in Cincinnati, and related that visit to the Juneteenth federal holiday.
“I really want to let you know how Juneteenth affects us, in the African American community, we have to celebrate communities of color and not of color. Because, in order for us to celebrate Juneteenth, we need to be able to celebrate those who assisted us, especially on the Underground Railroad," she said. "We have to celebrate those who weren’t always able to protect us. That’s something we embrace and that we are grateful for.”
She recognized that there have been many strides, but there are also challenges yet to overcome.
“Many people will divide and conquer, but I also feel that there is another side to that. We can also divide to conquer. We don’t have to leave the pot. Everyone can have their own place,” Tucker said.
She also celebrated the students' art.
Seven students from Fremont Middle School submitted art about what freedom means to them.
Tucker had gone to the schools and talked with students, telling them what the exhibit was for.
“I want to know what your thoughts and feelings would look like, through art,” Tucker said.
She had one piece on stage, “Bondage to Freedom” by Terrelle Finley, an eighth-grader. His art showed manacles, connected by a chain that symbolized time, with one open, representing freedom and the future, and the other closed, representing past bondage.
“I think it’s really important to involve the youth in our community, and that we invest in them, and teach them to know that they have a voice,” Tucker said.
Tucker later explained her hopes in more detail.
“For me, the Juneteenth celebration represents the tenacity and the character of my ancestors, and that it took the extra two years for them, the soldiers, to reach Galveston, Texas, and tell them that they were free,” Tucker said. “When you look at 1865, you also have Reconstruction, and you have the Ku Klux Klan and you have Juneteenth. All of those culminate in 1865. For me, that speaks volumes. We were able to have our businesses, we had people in Congress, and then that was taken away from us. At the time of our freedom, the Ku Klux Klan was developed to make sure that we weren’t free.
“I feel with Juneteenth, we celebrate, and when we celebrate we are standing up for our ancestors who laid down for us. I know, it’s a lot,” Tucker said.
She went on to speak of her grandson, Terrelle, whose art was chosen by the group to be a focus of discussion on the stage.
“It tells me he has been paying attention to history, and not only has he been taught in school, but at home. He’s been taught what the bondage was and what it looks like now to celebrate,” Tucker said.
She also commented on the impact a young artist might have on the future generations.
“I know he had enough impact to encourage three of his friends to create pieces of artwork. He is a voice,” Tucker said.
Alina Hart, Hayes Presidential education coordinator, introduced Tucker.
“We’re so thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to partner with the NAACP’s Juneteenth 2024 celebration,” Hart said. “This collaboration felt like a natural fit that would emphasize our goal to support today’s youth as they become leaders in our community. By teaming up for this event, we hope to create an open space where youth can take ownership and have a voice in their history and heritage sector.”
The heat clearly affected attendance, as the event was to be preceded by an NAACP-hosted scavenger hunt. It was to have started at the Birchard Library, but was postponed due to the heat and humidity.
The hunt was to end at Spiegel Grove. Several people who arrived at the library simply went home.
The Hayes House had air conditioning, but it was not working well at the museum. An estimated half of the people registered appeared to either leave early or simply never showed. Regardless, the event was attended by about 40.
All of the art was on display during a public reception Thursday and will remain there for summer activities.
The Juneteenth tribute to the Negro Leagues baseball game Friday was also postponed, possibly to be rescheduled for the first week of August.
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This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Standing up for ancestors, at Juneteenth event
