Freedom rang loud and clear Sunday as members of The African American Club of The Villages and their guests celebrated Juneteenth during the club’s annual Freedom Day Potluck at Rohan Recreation.
Dr. Carrie Dixon, president of TAAC, said the event looked much like how the more than 250,000 enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, celebrated that fateful day on June 19, 1865, when Union troops took control of the state and announced they were free.
“Looking at Galveston, Texas, when that city learned of the Emancipation Proclamation and the freeing of enslaved people, it was an opportunity to celebrate and just be happy,” the Village of DeLuna resident said. “African people use food when they are in celebration. Coming to the United States, enslaved Africans continued to use food and dancing in celebration. Everybody brought a dish to share. That tradition continues in the United States, so even today, when we celebrate, we celebrate with food and dancing.”
Priscilla Woodson, of the Village of Pennecamp, and JoAnne Woods, of the Village of Santo Domingo, welcomed guests to the celebration and passed out Juneteenth-themed bracelets and 50/50 chance drawing tickets.
Woods said, as a five-year member of TAAC, she was excited to celebrate for another year with her peers.
“I feel it’s important to know your history,” she said. “I didn’t know about Juneteenth until about a few years ago. Celebrating like this is something new for me and I’ve never experienced it before in this capacity. For us TAAC members to be coming from all parts of the country and to be here celebrating our history, it’s remarkable.”
At the beginning of the festivities, attendees recited the Pledge of Allegiance and sang the Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” After a few announcements, Dixon recited the history of Juneteenth and the history of Father’s Day before playing a five-minute video, “What is Juneteenth, and Why is it Important?” by TED-Ed.
Ocala resident, Victoria Durmo, Dixon’s friend and guest, was excited to attend the celebration and appreciated the opportunity to learn more about Juneteenth.
“Two years ago, I knew little of Juneteenth,” Durmo said. “It wasn’t in my history books or something I learned in school. Sometimes our greatest lessons come after we leave the classroom. History matters and all of our history deserves to be told. Juneteenth reminds us that history can’t be selective. We must share stories that will teach future generations where we’ve been and how far we’ve come. It’s important to make sure the sacrifices of so many are never forgotten.”
Elsa Connor, of the Village of Piedmont, said, “Progress often comes in stages,” and “Freedom delayed is not freedom denied.”
“I heard Gayle King (co-anchor of CBS Mornings), say she was a grown woman before she learned about Juneteenth,” Connor said. “I hear that a lot. I think that’s because it wasn’t called Juneteenth then. It was called Jubilee Day, Independence Day or Freedom Day. It’s one of the most important American holidays that honors the experiences, struggles and contributions of African Americans. The history of Juneteenth belongs not only to African Americans, but to the entire nation.”
Village of Pine Hills resident and TAAC vice president Bill Holliday asked attendees to stand when they heard their profession. By the time he was finished listing occupations, including teacher, engineer and veteran, the entire room was standing.
“We have a rich history,” Holliday said. “We each have gifts, talents and experiences that we bring to this community.
He then called Vera Davis Marks and Linwood Berry to the stage to share their life experiences.
Marks, of the Village Buttonwood, shared how she became Mrs. NAACP of the Monterey County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 1977, after raising the most money for a community fundraiser.
Marks, a founding member of TAAC and its first president, said she was happy to see the Juneteenth celebration continue.
“I have a motto for this group, ‘We can do this,’” she said. “No matter what we are involved in, I say, ‘We can do this.’ and ‘We are a family.’ When we first started the club, I felt that even though we were retired, there was still more to contribute to the community. Through our scholarships and other good deeds, we are still working toward our original mission and the job isn’t done.”
The celebration kicked up a notch as members played a brief Black history trivia game, enjoyed a potluck meal and listened to music provided by Lawrence and Mamie Parker, of the Village of Piedmont.
Dixon said she felt the event was a success.
“I always like hearing a little bit of history about Juneteenth,” she said. “I don’t think we get enough learning and knowledge about Juneteenth. I am proud of the fact that TAAC includes in their Juneteenth celebration something in reference to education about our history.”
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
