Local officials, organizations and residents met in the Village Hall parking lot to watch as Cub Scout Pack 109 hoisted up a flag in honor of Juneteenth.
“Juneteenth is a reminder of the journey towards justice and the resilience of those who endured slavery and fought for their liberation,” said Theresa Robinson, founder of the George Washington Carver: Center for the Advancement of Science Education. She’s also an associate professor at Elmhurst University and was the gathering’s keynote speaker June 4.
United States President Joe Biden signed a bill in 2021 making June 19 a federal holiday. Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, enforcing the freedom of about a quarter-million enslaved people in the state. Juneteenth is also known as an independence day, or “Freedom Day,” for African Americans.
“On June 19, we reflect on the institution of slavery as it existed in the United States, and we celebrate the end of slavery in the United States,” said Mayor Rory Hoskins, who grew up in Galveston, during the opening remarks before the flag raising.
“It is through acknowledging and learning from our history that we can appreciate the progress we have made and recognize the work that still lies within,” Robinson added. “By valuing and preserving this history, we affirm the dignity and worth of every individual and acknowledge that our diverse experiences enrich our collective identity.”
The flag and what it represents
Although red, green and black are the colors of the pan-African flag, the Juneteenth flag was created in 1997 and is red, white and blue. It’s a descendant of the American flag, according to CNN, because slaves and their descendants were and are Americans.
“It’s critical that we share all of our shared struggles and our shared triumphs, not just as Black Americans or white Americans, but as Americans. Because all history is our history, said Tara Stamps, Cook County’s board commissioner of the 1st District.
The Juneteenth flag also boasts a bursting white star in the middle, which represents the Lone Star State of Texas, where the first Juneteenth took place.
“As the Juneteenth flag is raised, we can identify its symbolism and attempt to respond to the harm of racism, anti-Blackness, and open a conversation about American pride, resilience, and the hope of a new beginning,” said Jill Wagner, a board member of the Historical Society of Forest Park and manager of circulation and reader engagement for the Review.
“In recognizing Juneteenth, we not only honor the end of slavery, but also celebrate the enduring contributions of African Americans to our nation’s fabric,” Robinson said. “These contributions are woven into every aspect of our society, from culture and art to science and politics.”
Juneteenth was first celebrated in Forest Park in 2009. That year, Hoskins — who was Village Commissioner at the time and the first African American to be elected into the village’s public office — and other residents founded the Annual Forest Park Juneteenth Pool Celebration. The sixteenth celebration will take place at the Park District’s Aquatic Center June 15.
The June 4 flag raising was put on by village officials, the Forest Park Public Library, the Historical Society of Forest Park, the Park District of Forest Park, Riveredge Hospital, and West Communities Juneteenth Collaborative — a Black-led grassroots group of Forest Park, River Forest and Oak Park residents who help to educate, and celebrate with, their neighbors.
Together, members of those organizations and residents watched as Cub Scouts raised the flag up the pole.
“Let it be a beacon of hope and a call to action. Let it remind us that history is not just a record of the past, but living, breathing, that we are all a part of. Let it inspire us to continue to fight for justice, equality, and truth in our daily lives, in our schools, workplaces, and communities,” Robinson said of the Juneteenth flag. “By honoring the legacy of Juneteenth, we honor the strength and spirit of those who came before us to pave a way for a brighter, more equitable future for all.”