Juneteenth was marked on Friday afternoon at Aurora University with music, performances, speeches, and a flag-raising ceremony. Aurora in Black, the Aurora African American Heritage Advisory Board, and the Quad County Urban League organized the event. It focused on education, empowerment, and community celebration, as stated in the press release. Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Although President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863, it was June 19, 1865, when the last enslaved African Americans were freed in Texas after the Civil War.
The annual flag-raising ceremony in Aurora honors Scheketa Hart-Burns, the first Black person elected to the Aurora City Council in 1991. She served for 32 years before passing away on Juneteenth in 2023. The event began with a March of Black Excellence, featuring over 100 young Black individuals from middle school to college levels. This was followed by the flag-raising and a rendition of the Black National Anthem by Chicago artist Nialand. Before the ceremony, there was a five-hour Juneteenth Youth Summit on campus.
Clayton Muhammad, founder of the Aurora in Black group, explained the significance of holding the event at a higher education venue. He stated, “We want to emphasize education beyond high school, whether it’s college or trade school, and expose our youth to a college campus.” The event organizers pointed out that Juneteenth became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, after President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act. In Illinois, it became a state holiday on June 16, 2021, when Gov. JB Pritzker signed House Bill 3922.
Awards, including the Junior Trailblazer Award, were presented to elementary school entrepreneurs. Additionally, $20,000 in scholarships was awarded to the Class of 2026 Cowherd Scholars, underlining the event’s impact. A Juneteenth flag flew above the university quad as more than 200 people gathered for the celebration, promoting freedom, unity, and understanding.
Elijah Santana from Aurora highlighted the day’s importance for marking Black freedom and fostering racial unity. Vanessa Gaddy, attending with her sister-in-law Betty Gaddy, stressed the importance of remembering and celebrating past struggles. “We have to recognize our forefathers’ efforts,” she remarked. Betty Gaddy emphasized understanding history as she shared a special moment with her granddaughter during the ceremony. “We celebrate because our ancestors worked tirelessly to achieve this,” she declared. Looking at the younger generation, she hoped for a brighter future. “It’s a collective journey for all to embrace each other’s backgrounds and experiences,” she concluded.
“It’s not just a Black or white thing. It’s for everyone to embrace each other and understand our histories.” – Betty Gaddy
David Sharos contributed reporting for The Beacon-News.
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