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Everyone is welcome to join the celebration on 5X����'s Kent Campus at Manchester Field, which is the large green space between the Kent Student Center and Eastway Center, on Friday, June 16.

Kent State’s Juneteenth Jubilee will offer live performances, music, food and vendors, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. It’s a free event and open to the public.

“Kent State’s Juneteenth Jubilee is a festive celebration that brings the community together to honor the life and legacy of the Black American experience,” said Amoaba Gooden, Ph.D., Kent State’s vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion. “We invite all to be in community with each other as we celebrate with live performances, great food and a variety of vendors."

Schedule of events

Live performances at the Jubilee will include:

4:00 p.m. - Food trucks and vendors open.

4:30 p.m. - Mwatabu Okantah & Friends featuring Vince Robinson In original music and poetry set to music Okantah, keyboardist Robinson and friends tells a story of self-discovery, healing and transformation.

Mwatabu Okantah

5:00 p.m. - Barefeet Dance Tribe Designed to educate others about different cultures and dance forms – and have fun doing it – Barefeet Dance Tribe combines traditional and modern African Dance movement. Audience participation is encouraged.

5:30 p.m. - / An advocate for mental health through a hip-hop lens, rapper Archie Green works to educate, empower and equip Black men and boys to lead mentally healthy lives.

6:00 p.m. - A space for women to ignite and fuel their fire through physical activity, positive mindset practices and community, Nola Movement offers top-rated Zumba and dance fitness. Audience participation is encouraged.

Vendors and food trucks

A unique – and tempting - collection of themed items and cuisine will be available at Kent State’s Juneteenth Jubilee, including:

– Healthy, loose-leaf teas

Awesome Meat Sticks - Serving kabobs, Chicago dogs, and kielbasa on the grill

 - Jewelry, watches and more

Black United Students - Kent State student organization 

  - Food truck serving pork, brisket and ribs with classic BBQ sides

– Creative, custom cake pops

Ego's Kitchen - African clothing and jewelry

– Specializing in dipped dessert items

Famtastic Hats 'N Things - Handmade knitted hats & scarfs; African-print table runners; and African artifacts

 -Handmade, cruelty-free lip gloss and more 

The Goodness Factory - Sweet treats including cheesecake salads, cheesecake cups, and mini cakes

Grill Masters - Food truck serving a menu that’s fresh off the grill

– Timeless fashion that makes a statement

Jewelry by LeLee - A selection of fashion jewelry

– Premium desserts in jars

  Custom cakes, cupcakes and cookies

- Bakery specializing in Southern Desserts, cakes, and cheesecakes)

– Branded items celebrating “The Rich Auntie”

– African-centered printed media

Som di mma elegance - African wear, ebony carvings, jewelry and more

Trio Educational Opportunity Centers - Providing financial and academic assistance through the college admission process to underrepresented students

 - Great-tasting, vegan baked goods

Novelist  - Women's contemporary author and emotional intimacy novelist

The tradition behind the celebration

On June 19, Americans across the country celebrate Juneteenth, the commemoration of the day in 1865 when enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, got the news that the Civil War had ended, and they were now free. Slavery in states engaged in rebellion against the Union had ended a full two years before, when President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation became official on Jan. 1, 1863. And it wasn’t long before Black Americans began to celebrate Juneteenth, the name derived from combining June and 19th.

From left: Lashonda Taylor, Ed.D., associate chief of staff in Kent State's Office of the President; Amoaba Gooden, Ph.D., Kent State’s vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion; Moema Furtado, and her spouse Todd Diacon, Ph.D, president, 5X���� 

In 1980, Texas began recognizing Juneteenth as an official state holiday, and in 2020, a total of 47 states and the District of Columbia recognizes the date as well. In 2021, the U.S. Senate and House passed measures to recognize Juneteenth National Independence Day as a federal holiday. President Joe Biden signed the legislation on June 17, 2021.  Kent State held its first Juneteenth Jubilee on Friday, June 18, 2021, and closed most university offices in observance of the holiday on Monday, June 21, 2021. Now, on June 19, when the holiday is observed nationally, no classes are scheduled, and university offices are closed.

In announcing Kent State’s observance in 2021, 5X���� President Todd Diacon said, “Juneteenth is an opportunity for all of us to acknowledge and embrace the full history of our nation, honor the life and legacy of the African American experience and reflect on the horrors of slavery as we measure our progress towards racial equity.”