SALT LAKE CITY — A large crowd gathered at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley City Thursday night to honor Juneteenth.
“I feel like it’s just as important as Independence Day because it’s when the Constitution finally started to completely become a reality,” Danor Gerald, Producer and Co-Host of the PBS Utah show “Roots, Raise and Culture” said. “We want to create a space where everybody can feel safe. Because you don’t always feel safe in public these days. Tonight is about joy, reflecting on history and interacting with different people.”
Gerald emphasized that this Juneteenth event focused on historical accounts that are often overlooked in Utah history, including stories about Buffalo Soldiers.
Buffalo Soldiers were the United States Army Battalion composed of African American soldiers. These heroes connected the early Mormon pioneers and the indigenous people of Utah; providing peace for the area.
“This is a great way to learn about history, because right now it’s not being taught in the Utah Classroom,” Gerald said. “So you can come to events like this: Students and parents can embrace all Utah history because Black History is American History. This is a place where you can expose your children to things so that when they are outside of Utah, they aren’t ignorant or uninformed about Juneteenth and the Buffalo soldiers. This is a place where your kids can learn history that other people, around the country, have known for years. Here in Utah, we are still working these facts into the curriculum.”
James’ Gourmet Pies served sweet potato pie to attendees, while they made Juneteenth bracelets at the bead table. Later in the evening, a panel discussion with Dr. Richard Ferguson, Dr. Sidni Shorter and Robert Burch discussed what it means to be free and equal.
“This event is so magical because we mark the end of slavery,” Lonzo Liggins, Co-Host of “Roots, Raise and Culture” said. “And a lot of people don’t realize that this is a holiday that marks a beginning for us. This isn’t something that we should shy away from.”
Utah became the 10th state to make Juneteenth a recognized state holiday back in 2022.
“It’s important for our young people to know that it’s okay to celebrate both independence days,” Liggins said.
Slavery continued in Texas years after the Emancipation Proclamation, and in June of 1865, enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were finally given independence.
“Unity, freedom and independence is a God Given right for everybody, just like it says in the Constitution,” Gerald said. “And we are going to celebrate that, and we are going to rejoice in that opportunity. None of us are free, if some of us are not free.”
PBS Utah will be hosting another educational event at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley on Tuesday, July 1. This event is a prescreening of a new show highlighting STEM and weather activities. The Weather Hunters Event will run from 6 to 8 p.m.
