'It's one of our biggest days of the year': Juneteenth Celebrations in Kern County | 17 News at Sunr

[00:00:03]All right, today [music] is Juneteenth or Freedom Day. We have President Patrick Johnson of the NAACP Bakersfield and President Blaine Richard of the Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce to talk more about this special day. Good morning to the both of you. Thanks for joining us.

[00:00:18]>> Good morning. Good morning.

[00:00:18]>> Of course. Thanks for joining us.

[00:00:20]Patrick, I'll start with you. Can you explain the meaning of this day and its remembrance?

[00:00:24]>> Uh the meaning of this day is is the Independence Day of black slaves in America. And so it's our Juneteenth of our celebration of the our 4th of July. And so from the Emancipation Proclamation that was established in 1863, uh the final slaves in Galveston, Texas didn't happen until June 19th, 1865. And so we celebrate that day of freedom here in America.

[00:00:48]>> And Blaine, I'll turn it over to you.

[00:00:49]What does Juneteenth mean to you personally?

[00:00:53]>> It means freedom.

[00:00:54]Um uh but it also means it's really important that everybody understands that black history is American history. Um it it it it is for everyone and it's for everybody to celebrate and understand that uh being being somebody that can persevere, um that can really take you places.

[00:01:14]>> And Blaine, what have you seen the celebrations like in town lately? How do you think they've grown as a plate?

[00:01:20]>> Oh, absolutely. I think they uh Juneteenth uh the celebration here it's it's really evolved. Um I do believe that in the broader community uh for Bakersfield and Kern County as a whole, it's uh everybody's starting to really understand what it truly is.

[00:01:34]>> And Patrick, I'll turn it over to you as the president of NAACP Bakersfield.

[00:01:39]Explain to everyone at home what that organization does and how important it is for the community.

[00:01:44]>> Um it's it's very important. Now, we do a 3-day celebration typically. And so today uh we will be at Omni Pa um from 11:00 to 3:00. We'll have a great uh jazz session with the band at the Jazz Lounge uh from uh 4:00 to 8:00 and then um on Saturday we'll be at the park at Josh T. Park where there will be a lot of festivities, games, bring your lawn chairs out.

[00:02:06]>> [laughter] >> Uh there will be food. Uh there will be uh of course the splash zone will be available for the kids to be able to cool down. And so it's just going to be a great family fun celebration. And also a lot of Juneteenth trivia for those that don't know about the history of Juneteenth, they get to learn a little bit more about what Juneteenth is about and why we celebrate it.

[00:02:25]>> And Blaine, uh one more question for you.

[00:02:27]>> Sure.

[00:02:27]>> Juneteenth, the meaning you just explained it, but explain to everyone at home just how big this day is for the black community.

[00:02:35]>> Essentially, this is one of our biggest days of the year. Uh it's it's very um it's very important and I did want to I know we talk about education, but I'd like to turn that education and the awareness into action. Um you can go out and support a black business today. Every dollar that's um spent locally for black businesses, it creates generational wealth. It it supports families. Um that economic empowerment is a is a key part to that freedom. So, definitely take some time and uh put it into action. Go support a black business today.

[00:03:09]>> All right. NAACP Bakersfield President Patrick Johnson and First Vice President Blaine Richard of the Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce. Thank you so much to both of you for coming in and explaining this great holiday.

[00:03:20]>> Thank you.

[00:03:20]>> Of course.