How To Celebrate Juneteenth In Chicago

**SPEAKER_1** (0:01)
You inspire WBEZ, the news, conversations, the voices. And when you donate now, you'll help ignite $85,000 for more local journalism. I'm Susie Ahn.

**SPEAKER_2** (0:13)
And I'm Alex Keefe. Like anything at WBEZ, earning this 85k is a group effort. We need your help. Give now so we can get to 1,500 donations by Tuesday, June 23rd.

**SPEAKER_1** (0:24)
Time is ticking. Just go to wbez.org/donate and thanks.

**Sasha-Ann Simons** (0:43)
Hey, Chicago, I'm Sasha Ann Simons, and this is In the Loop.
What are you doing today, June 19th? Well, for many Americans, Juneteenth is still a relatively new addition to the calendar, but its history stretches back more than 160 years. The holiday marks June 19th, 1865, the day news of emancipation finally reached enslaved people in Texas, and more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. From festivals to the arts to community service, in this episode of the pod, we'll share a rundown of things to do this weekend to commemorate Juneteenth in the Chicago area. And just a quick note, this conversation was originally recorded on Wednesday. At the table was Jahmal Cole, CEO and founder of My Block, My Hood, My City. Taneta Kayam, whose chief operating officer of Black Ensemble Theater, and Katanya Rabie, who's the vice president of planning for Far South Community Development Corporation.
It's been five years since Juneteenth became an official holiday, so I asked the panelists what they're hearing from their communities and how to incorporate the holiday into their lives. Katanya went first.

**Katanya Raby** (1:54)
Folks are super excited. I think that it becoming a federal holiday is a huge deal to be able to have an official stamp on something that we've already been celebrating in a lot of ways. And so, you know, having the experience in the community at a large scale is really special. So a lot of folks are excited to continue that tradition.

**Sasha-Ann Simons** (2:16)
Sure. What do you think, Jahmal?

**Jahmal Cole** (2:19)
Yeah, I think it's the same. I think that it's so good to see.
You know, I'm living in Little Village right now, so I feel like they celebrate something every night in Little Village. So I feel like, but Juneteenth is, you know, our opportunity to celebrate freedom. And when I'm seeing young men on Chicago Avenue or, you know, Pulaski or 79th, I always want to say, man, you're free. You know, don't give your freedom away, man. You don't want to go downstate and do 100 years for free. You're free. And so just think about, like, what that means. Really appreciate your liberty and you're free. So that freedom is what I'm thinking about for Juneteenth.

**Sasha-Ann Simons** (2:51)
Sure. And how are you seeing people celebrate? And what's the buzz for you, Tannetta?

**Tynnetta Qayim** (2:57)
I've seen in the community a lot of young people. Like I see flags on cars and on houses, which I think is I think that's great because you recognize there's something to celebrate, even though it was a tragedy, that there's something to celebrate and to embrace and to remember.
And I think that is hopeful. But then my thing is always what's next.

**Sasha-Ann Simons** (3:29)
Speaking of hope, Jahmal, Juneteenth is marking the opening of the Obama Presidential Center.

**Jahmal Cole** (3:34)
Wow.

**Sasha-Ann Simons** (3:35)
Have you been inside yet?

**Jahmal Cole** (3:36)
Yeah, I got to go to the gym. I want to go check out the whole place, but I wouldn't be doing this work if it wasn't for President Obama and reading his books. And he inspired me to be an activist, even knowing what community organizing was. So yeah, Juneteenth represents freedom, determination, and really belonging. So yeah, I'm looking forward to it opening up.

**Sasha-Ann Simons** (3:56)
Sure. Tanetta and Katanya, have you been yet?

**Katanya Raby** (3:58)
I've been.

**Tynnetta Qayim** (3:59)
I have not been.

**Sasha-Ann Simons** (4:00)
So Katanya, you've been. Were you impressed? How did it feel?

**Katanya Raby** (4:03)
It's amazing. It's absolutely beautiful.
It was very special. My family was invited to come and see everything. And we got a chance to walk through the entire space and just the feeling that you get when you walk through it. It's just so beautiful. The architecture, the, you know, just all of the exhibits, the history, the intentionality behind all of the different components that are a part of the experience. And then getting to sit at the Resolute Desk, you know, that was pretty cool.

**Sasha-Ann Simons** (4:40)
I hear that that's awesome. The West Pullman Neighborhood Festival, it's Friday from 1 to 6, a combination of art, food, family, games. Tell us what else folks can expect.