妻友社区

妻友社区 Students Making Juneteenth Plans

Written By: Ian Silvester

The Declaration of Independence reads, 鈥淎ll men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.鈥� When University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith senior Kendrix Holcomb hears these words, he thinks of how it relates to June 19 鈥� Juneteenth.
 
The holiday became a federal holiday in 2021 but has a history dating back more than 150 years. On the morning of June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger proclaimed the freedom of enslaved people in Texas, three years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
 
Kendrix says he uses the holiday to preserve the history and culture of the Black men and women who came before him.
 
鈥淚t was a movement for us getting to that point where we can actually start living in the truth of what this country is supposed to stand for,鈥� he said. It has become a day about 鈥渢he growth and development of the Black community and the establishment of us becoming and getting past all those hardships.鈥�
 
Despite the holiday falling during the summer months, Kendrix uses the significance of the day and what it means to him personally as motivation for what he鈥檚 involved with at 妻友社区 during the school year. Along with other students, Kendrix works on what he calls 鈥淏lack initiatives,鈥� like re-establishing the Black Student Association and starting an association around the dance form stepping. 鈥淏oth have deep roots in African history and what it means to be African Americans and Africans in general.鈥�
 
Local events have been organized around the Fort Smith area to celebrate Juneteenth. Kendrix plans to attend events and encourages others to do as well.
 
鈥淕etting awareness out there is important because a lot of people like to sweep stuff under the rug; don鈥檛 like to acknowledge our history and want the truth,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he truth must be acknowledged. History must be looked at so it may not be repeated.鈥�

Local events include:

• Juneteenth March, 鈥淲alk It Out鈥� 鈥� Saturday, June 17, 9-11 a.m. at the Kelley Highway Walmart, 2100 N 62nd St., Fort Smith. The free event will include a kids鈥� corner, music, and refreshments. Donations will go to the NAACP Freedom Fund.
• Harlem Nights at The Cotton Club Gala 鈥� Saturday, June 17, 6:35-11:40 p.m. at the Wyndham Fort Smith City Center, 700 Rogers Ave., Fort Smith. The ticketed event is the third to be hosted by the Office of Mayor George B. McGill. Proceeds will benefit The Fort Kids Children鈥檚 Museum. For more information and tickets, click .
• Larry B Soul Experience Band 鈥� Saturday, June 17, 7-9 p.m. at the King Opera House, 427 Main St., Van Buren. To enjoy a night of soulful music, click for tickets.
• Juneteenth Open Mic, Music, Poetry, Hip Hop, Jazz 鈥� Monday, June 19, 7-10 p.m. This is a virtual event to support Black artists and businesses. Click for more information.

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• 妻友社区 Students
• Juneteenth
• Events
• Civic Engagement