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Juneteenth Rising To New Glory

By Ruthanne Johnson

Denver Urban Spectrum; May 2008

Over its 30 year history in Denver, the annual Juneteenth celebration in the city’s Historic Five Points has had its ups and downs, especially in recent years when it almost completely died out. But this year’s celebration is rising fast from the flames and headed toward success, due to the concerted efforts of innovative leaders from Denver’s African-American community.

Spearheading the preparations for “Juneteenth 2008: The Rebirth” is former Denver Mayor Wellington E. Webb, joined by District 8 City Councilwoman Carla Madison, Jeff

Fard of Brother Jeff’s Cultural Center, the Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce, and Blair-CaldwellAfrican American Research Library.

“The (Denver) Juneteenth celebration, which at one time was one of the largest Juneteenth celebrations in the

country, experienced a decline. But we’re standing together today as a duty to reintroduce the rebirth of Juneteenth,” said Webb, explaining the event is an important and necessary cultural celebration to the national as well as local African-American communities. “We think cultural celebrations are very important. We think it provides some of the history.”

Juneteenth is the oldest and longest standing observance of the ending of slavery in the United States.

“But today, Denver doesn’t have a geographical African-American community,” said Brother Jeff. “There’s been a

dispersement. We can be found in every corner, nook and cranny of this wonderful state, and this celebration on the weekend of June 14 is a way for our communities to come together, and a way to show that we have a lot to offer.”

Denver’s waning Juneteenth celebration, which was cancelled in 2007, was brought back into the spotlight by concerned community leaders during a town hall meeting at the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theatre in 2006.

“One of the issues that emerged as important to our community was this historic celebration, which has historically served as a place to enjoy cultural services, and for people to come and reconnect with family and friends and stay connected to communities,”

Brother Jeff said.

“In Brother Jeff’s town hall meeting, about 150 or so cards on issues that affected the African-American community were received,” said Webb. “About 50 percent of those said there is a lack of esteem in the African-American community by virtue of the Juneteenth celebration being cancelled.”

The former mayor added that although the event wasn’t something in which he had planned to participate, he volunteered to help due to the event’s historic and cultural significance and the desire within Denver’s African-American community to revitalize the 142-year-old celebration.

According to Brother Jeff, the reasons for the decline in the celebration include limited funding, the small number of event planners in past years, and a recent gentrification of the historic Five Points neighborhood.

“The cost of the festival became challenging, and the task too daunting for one organization to maintain,” he said. “We feel like the timing is great for organizations to now stand in unity, and to pool our resources to where we can continue to enjoy the festival.”

We want everyone to know that the Juneteenth rebirth is real,” Webb said. “This rebirth is almost like a reeducation as well, and we’re looking forward to everyone’s participation.”

According to the event’s planners, 2008 Juneteenth: The Rebirth will be held on Saturday, June 14, along Welton Street in historic Five Points from 10 a.m. to late afternoon. The celebration will include a parade, live entertainment, historic reenactments, education and health pavilions, and vendors representing a wealth of offerings.

“We want to bring people back to Welton Street, to create an energy and a synergy that shows Welton Street has continued to grow,” Webb said. “And we want to tie the past history to the new history, to let people know there are new opportunities here and

everyone is invited to participate in the activity.”

Volunteers, vendors and entertainers interested in being a part of 2008 Juneteenth: The Rebirth can call 303-821-0720 or 303- 297-0823, or e-mail Leslie Juniel at Juniel6@aol.com or Brother Jeff at brotherjeff1@earthlink.net. For more information, call 303-297-0823.