Rockford celebrates Juneteenth with day of music, poetry and more

Xica Simone performs with The Synergy Band on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, during Juneteenth celebrations at Sinnissippi Park in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Juneteenth celebrations took over Sinnissippi Park on Wednesday for what has been the longest-running annual observance of the holiday in the state.

Tommy Meeks pioneered such festivities 34 years ago to mark the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation and the end of slavery on June 19, 1865.  Now, Juneteenth is also a federal holiday and Meeks’ annual event is a cultural celebration centered around music, poetry, talent shows and other family activities.

“This day is for us to appreciate our culture and celebrate it with this entire community,” said Gina Meeks, the city’s 12th Ward alderwoman and Tommy Meeks’ daughter. “What I’m so proud of Rockford for is that we have celebrated this here in this community for 34 years as a whole community. It’s never been an event for just people of color. It’s always been for everyone to enjoy, because who doesn’t want to celebrate the end of slavery.”

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This year’s festivities got a musical boost from Hard Rock Casino Rockford, which helped bring in the nationally touring California funk band Con Funk Shun to headline the event.

The event was also filled with regional and local musical acts, including Carl Cole and the YES Club. Trinity Rucker, who is the city’s official youth poet, delivered lines from Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise” before singing a stirring rendition of “I Rise Up” with the YES Club.

“I saw a lot of people tear up — or at least I thought they were,” said Rucker, a 13-year-old who will enter eighth grade next year. “I just love to be able to touch people and allow people to feel happiness toward the Black community, rather than resentment or feeling agitated toward them, and just bring positivity all around.”

Trinity Rucker sings with the YES Club on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, during Juneteenth celebrations at Sinnissippi Park in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Juneteenth commemorates the date on June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were told by the Union army that they were free. That notice came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation declaring all enslaved people were free.

“A lot of people are in bondage in their minds or in their hearts,” Rucker said. “I would really just encourage everyone to tap into their true freedom and be their best selves.”

The event also incorporates education with multiple informational booths, as wells as food trucks, drink stands and a several of Black-owned businesses with vendor booths.

“Mr. Meeks has been putting this on for the majority of my life, and I’ve always come down to Sinnissippi,” said Tiana McCall, a Rockford School Board member. “I’ve brought my nieces and nephews and then my own children – just to emphasize the significance of this day.”

More photos | Juneteenth in Rockford

Richard Meeks sings along with The Synergy Band on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, during Juneteenth celebrations at Sinnissippi Park in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Legacy Stamper, 4, plays on a bouncy castle on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, during Juneteenth celebrations at Sinnissippi Park in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Earl Dotson Jr. and Tommy Meeks address the audience on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, during Juneteenth celebrations in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
XIca Simone, center, performs with The Synergy Band on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, during Juneteenth celebration at Sinnissippi Park in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Brittany Hardaway, an anchor for 13 WREX, dances on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, during Juneteenth celebrations at Sinnissippi Park in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Daililah Maggette, 7, hops onto a bouncy slide on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, during Juneteenth activities at Sinnnissippi Park in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Legacie Canada, 17, talks about her Juneteenth artwork on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at Sinnissippi Park in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Nia Hodges, 18, a Guilford High School graduate headed to Howard University, recites a poem on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, during Juneteenth celebrations in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Richard Meeks and others dance during a performance by Synergy on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, during Juneteenth at Sinnissippi Park in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Tina Renee performs with The Synergy Band on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, during Juneteenth at Sinnissippi Park in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Laitan Webb, 7, slides down a bouncy slide on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, during Juneteenth activities at Sinnissippi Park in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Tina Renee performs with The Synergy Band on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, during Juneteenth at Sinnissippi Park in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Xica Simone performs with The Synergy Band on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, during Juneteenth celebrations at Sinnissippi Park in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Trinity Rucker sings with the YES Club on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, during Juneteenth celebrations at Sinnissippi Park in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas