Freedom and the Importance of Juneteenth
Our Experience with Juneteenth
… In Prince George’s County, Maryland
Let’s talk about freedom. Coming from the Caribbean, we’d say freedom encapsulates that moment when the sun is shining, you’re breathing in fresh air, and the wind is whipping your hair. Really, nothing better than a sea breeze!
In all seriousness, when we came to America, we were excited to be in the land of the free and the home of the brave. What better place to participate in the American Dream? Imagine our dismay when we arrived and found that it was not as seen on TV! One cab driver in Baltimore put it so succinctly, “what you think this is, the land of milk and honey?”
Free to be Black
Over the years, we have indeed come into our own. But we have continued to experience a level of cognitive dissonance nonetheless. On the one hand, we have never felt freer to achieve milestones at a faster rate than we could have imagined. From getting a driver’s license, to graduating from college, to starting a business.
On the other hand, there is a level of caution that we exercise. Yes, we may be Caribbean, but at the end of the day we are Black. It matters, because in this land of the free, we have come to find out that freedom is not applied equally to all. We see and experience it all the time. Activities that some enjoy freely, others are penalized for. From bird watching, to walking home from work, to jogging in your neighborhood, to sleeping in our own homes. The list goes on and on. Being Black means you can’t throw caution to the wind. Being Black means you have to be conscientious about being Black wherever you go. However, we need to flip this reality on its head so that it is no longer a cause for concern, but a cause for celebration.
Juneteenth in Prince George’s County
We are lucky to have grown up in Prince George’s County, with a rich African-American history. The county and community by extension does a wonderful job of marking the occasions that are important to Black Americans: one of them being Juneteenth. For those of you who may not know, Juneteenth marks the 1865 occasion when Major General Gordon Granger informed slaves in Galveston, Texas that they were free. This announcement was long overdue – it came two and half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.
Unfortunately, a lot of American history is whitewashed. So, it’s important that as a country, we take the opportunity to celebrate Juneteenth and recognize its importance to the African-American community. Fourth of July is so important because it marks when America as a country become free. In Trinidad, we proudly celebrate Emancipation Day because it marks the occasion when our ancestors became free. We gladly do the same for our American brothers and sisters who celebrate the day when their ancestors learned of their freedom. As we told the Washington Post, we must continue to “lift up the positive history and the contributions of African Americans to the country.” Doing so at this moment is more important than ever as the country reckons with uncomfortable truths.
Nyana with the founder of Sylvr Bullet Apparel at last year’s Black Renaissance Block party held by PGAAMCC in honor of Juneteenth.
We aim to uplift our community and that means supporting many of the institutions that put on important cultural programming in the county. We love participating in the Juneteenth celebrations during this time of the year. One of the celebrations we like to participate in is the annual Juneteenth celebration put on by the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation. They have been putting on Juneteenth celebrations in the county since 2006. Last year, we were glad to participate as a vendor and was able to witness the celebration in all its glory. The food, performances, and the atmosphere in general was abuzz with such a positive energy that we wished we could’ve bottled up. Everyday should feel like that! While the annual Juneteenth celebration couldn’t be held virtually in Watkins Park this year, the Parks and Recreation Department took it virtual. This year, they held their first #VirtualJuneteenth celebration which lasted all week long and culminates today. We’re proud to have contributed a brief cooking demonstration of one of our favorite fruit dishes for the event. In addition to the Parks and Recreation Department, another organization that does fantastic work in this realm is the Prince Georges African American Museum & Cultural Center (PGAAMCC). They celebrate African American history this day and every day. This museum is truly a gem in our own backyard and does such a fantastic job of curating cultural events throughout the year. If you want to stay in the know, be sure to check them out. So all that is to say, we’re taking today to celebrate Juneteenth and we hope you will too!
P.S. Juneteenth isn’t a federally recognized holiday. Consider joining Mrs. Opal Lee in her campaign to make it one.
Camella’s Kitchen is run by two ladies from Trinidad and Tobago. Based out of Prince George’s County, Maryland, we’re living our sauciest lives by bringing our bold Caribbean flavors to you! How will you #BeCamellaSaucy? Tell us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube!
