By Mike Finney

DOVER — Hanifah Ouro-Sama, president of the Black Communities on Campus club at Dover High School, said it took far too long to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.

Nevertheless, she and her group are ready to celebrate this month by staging a Freedom Day Festival on June 20 from noon until 4 p.m. at Legislative Mall in Dover.

“During the first portion of the event, we’ll have introductions, a brief lecture on the history of Juneteenth and a keynote address from Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester,” Ms. Ouro-Sama said. “Then, attendees will get to explore the nearly 40 Black-owned Delaware businesses who have signed up to attend as vendors, including food trucks.

“Field activities, games and bouncy houses will also be set up, so dress comfortably. You can expect to see current — and previous — Dover High School students playing jazz music, dancing and performing spoken-word poetry.” The performances will begin at 3.

Juneteenth was first recognized as a federal holiday June 17, 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. It marks the anniversary of the June 19, 1865, announcement of General Order No. 3 by Union Army Gen. Gordon Granger, which proclaimed freedom for enslaved people in Texas, the last state of the Confederacy with institutional slavery.

Ms. Ouro-Sama said she and others in the Black community weren’t surprised that it took Juneteenth a while to become an official national holiday.

“The reason why it took so long for Juneteenth to be recognized as a national holiday is the same reason why there is a lack of historical representation in our education curriculum — this country has a nasty habit of overlooking the horrible historical events which led to its development,” she said. “A huge part of that is the history of slavery.

“Juneteenth is, in many ways, a bittersweet reminder of this history and the lives lost to decades of enslavement. Celebrating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans inadvertently forces us to acknowledge the years of enslavement they faced prior and this country’s role in creating the systemic inequities faced by their descendants.”

Ms. Ouro-Sama added that the Juneteenth Freedom Day Festival will be an inclusive and family-friendly event that is free to attend.

Her Black Communities on Campus group hopes to secure free food and drinks for those who may not be able to afford purchasing from the vendors, so donations are welcome by emailing doverhighbcc@gmail.com.

The upcoming festival is not the only one Black Communities on Campus has hosted. The group’s events are typically completely student-led, with the help of their adviser, Gabrielle LaSalle.

Besides Ms. Ouro-Sama, a senior, its officers include Jordan Demby (vice president) and Mashiah Casson-Jasseh (secretary).

In February, it hosted its second annual Black History Month Exposition, which zeroed in on Black excellence across disciplines. Forty Black entrepreneurs from across the state represented their businesses and organizations.

Rep. Sherry Dorsey Walker, D-Wilmington, also spoke about her work on House Bill 198, which requires Delaware schools to teach Black history and was signed by the governor last June.

Ms. Ouro-Sama said the highlight of the February exposition was a fashion show, during which 10 students personified pivotal Black figures through their clothes and hairstyles.

At the group’s weekly meetings, members hold discussions on a wide range of topics pertaining to Black life, including generational divides in the community, the roots of Black stereotypes, the misuse of African American vernacular English and more.

“Our goal as a club is to uplift Black students by creating a safe space on campus,” said Ms. Ouro-Sama. “Through our weekly meetings, Black students are able to connect with their peers, develop their advocacy skills and establish a sense of pride for their culture.

“We have hosted a variety of events on campus, from those which are purely for fun to events which are more educational.”