On Friday, June 10th, the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and Wealth & Disparities in the Black Community hosted a Juneteenth kickoff celebration at San Francisco City Hall. The event was filled with vibrant colors honoring Black sacrifice and struggle, Black pride, and Black excellence.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed shared,“Juneteenth is a recognition of our culture and accomplishments, but it’s also a solemn reminder of the bonds of slavery and the struggle for equality that continues today.”
Phelicia Jones, event host and Founder and Leader of Wealth & Disparities in the Black Community emphasized that, “although President Biden signed into law Juneteenth as a federal holiday in 2021, San Francisco’s Black community has celebrated Juneteenth National Independence Day, also known as, Jubilee Day, Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, Black Independence Day for years now.”
The Juneteenth celebration was packed with talented musicians, artists, and power speakers. An HCN staff member presented a poem for the ceremony called “Ocean.”
Most days,
I ask the ocean to make me blue like her
To swallow me
So, I can rest at the bottom
with my ancestors
Reborn
So, I can feel whole
....
She offers to cleanse me
Reminding me how my Black be
Mermaid
Be
Magic
Under the sea
My Black
Be
Dripped in all
Gold
Call me a treasure chest
know,
The ocean will heal your wounds
Scream your sorrow
And she will tell you that
you are beautiful
That god created a masterpiece
A long line of royalty
Made the road rocky
But created you to overcome.
We hope you had a great Juneteenth celebration with family and friends.
