Black ancestors, civil rights heroes to be honored
during Juneteenth celebrations in Brooklyn
By Nelson A. King
Brooklyn Council Member
Farah N. Louis says she
will honor on Saturday Black
ancestors and civil rights
heroes during the “Second
Independence Day” commemorating
Juneteenth celebrations
in Brooklyn.
“Juneteenth, our annual
holiday commemorating the
end of slavery on June 19, 1865,
has been recognized by Black
Americans since the 1880s,”
Louis, the daughter of Haitian
immigrants, told Caribbean
Life on Tuesday. “And this ‘Second
Independence Day’ continues
to resonate in new ways.
“This year’s celebration
comes at a moment of sweeping
social and generational
change,” added the representative
for the 45th Council District
in Brooklyn. “Across the
country, Americans are reckoning
with past sins and looking
to build a more equitable
future.
“In that same spirit, on Saturday,
we will honor our Black
ancestors and all those civil
rights heroes who fought for
freedom before us,” she continued.
Caribbean L 24 ife, JUNE 18-24, 2021
“We are also going to
recommit ourselves to the fight
for equality with a 45-minute
selection of speeches, prayer,
poetry, music, dancing and
drumlines.”
Louis said her office organized
last year’s inaugural
Juneteenth celebration, at the
Brooklyn Public Library, at
Grand Army Plaza.
She described that event as
“an enormous success,” and, as
a result, she said “it likely contributed
to Gov. Andrew Cuomo
recognizing Juneteenth as an
official state holiday.
“Join us this Saturday, as
we continue to break barriers,
build community and make
history,” Louis urged.
She also said that, at 8:00
a.m., on Saturday, she will
unveil a statue of George
Floyd to mark the start of
Juneteenth.
The council member said the
six-foot-tall sculpture was created
by artist Chris Carnabuci
and will be displayed at Flatbush
Junction, for about two to
three weeks, before moving to
Union Square in Manhattan.
Louis said she “very much
appreciates” Confront ART and
the We Are Floyd Foundation,
which were “actively involved
in the sculpture’s selection,
construction and transportation.”
Among those expected
to speak at the unveiling is
George Floyd’s brother, Terrence
Floyd.
Louis said rapper and poet
Papoose will recite a poem
he wrote in honor of George
Floyd.
A full Juneteenth rally and
“Cel-Liberation” will follow at
10:00 am at the Brooklyn Public
Library.
Louis said performers will
include P.U.S.H Dance Team;
Ashley Richards; Blue Angels
Drumline; and Brooklyn Untied
Drumline.
According to Juneteenth.
com, Juneteenth is the oldest
nationally celebrated commemoration
of the ending of
slavery in the United States.
From its Galveston, TX origin
in 1865, Juneteenth.com
said the observance of June
19th, as the African American
Emancipation Day, has spread
across the United States and
Council Member Farah N. Louis addresses reception. Photo
by Nelson A. King
Continued on Page 26
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