GRESHAM, Ore. — The sunshine was out for this year's Juneteenth celebration, an annual commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States.
Portland’s Play, Grow, Learn youth organization hosted its sixth annual Juneteenth event at Vance Park in Gresham. They welcomed dozens of community partners, nonprofits and local Black businesses to the celebration.
“This is like a good healing place for our community,” said Germaine Flentroy, the co-founder of Play, Grow, Learn.
Flentroy tells KGW he decided to host this celebration after coming from the south and noticing not everyone celebrated, or sometimes even heard of Juneteenth before.
“It’s like true liberation,” said Flentroy. “Why not put your chest out? Why not smile? Why not be proud? So that was a norm but see, coming up here was kind of like people really didn’t know it. I think the more people are educated about Juneteenth, the more wonderful this event — because it’s an open event for everybody. It’s a life experience that we all need to be part of.”
It’s people like Isaac Chambers, who now appreciates the celebration behind this holiday after first learning of Juneteenth on social media five years ago.
“Now, it’s a way for people to come together and spread a message of freedom, and hope I guess,” said Chambers. “Yeah, freedom and hope.”
Chambers is a Portland barber and father of five, who chose to be at the Juneteenth event, and help teach his young ones about the holiday as well.
“And then, just understanding too where we came from and where we are at in this moment in life,” said Chambers.
Chambers is not alone. Others who attended the Juneteenth celebration had a similar experiences — telling KGW they also didn’t learn about Juneteenth until later in life.
“Honestly, [it was] probably like 10 years ago [when I learned about Juneteenth],” said Shaleah Gaston. “But it wasn’t really a big thing.”
Gaston shared that she too recently started learning and honoring her ancestors, and the struggles they overcame to be free in 1865.
“Because for a lot of people, it’s the Fourth of July,” said Gaston. “But for us, people of color, brown people — it’s Juneteenth. So, I feel like it’s a special day.”
Local children’s book author Ayesha Gonzales was also at the event sharing both her children’s book and journal. Fixated on speaking on a young Black girl's experience getting bullied for wearing her natural hair. She says she’s also happy to see this Juneteenth event.
“Well, for myself, I am more so looking at it as in freedom of being free,” said Gonzales. “Even though I know that we still do have a long road.”