Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom. It commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, TX, learned of the Emancipation Proclamation, which formally ended their enslavement.
This year, on June 21, the Black/African American Circle hosted a Juneteenth celebration at St Mark’s Cathedral. African drumming and dancing by VCBynum Arts & Education and by the Awal Alhassan & Sohoyini West African Dance Company brought an international flair to the celebration. Drawing from his Kenyan heritage, The Rev. Paul Karume, vicar of Goshen All Saints Church in Tacoma, preached on the theme “Don’t be afraid. God has got your back.”
The assembly was also welcomed to the cathedral by The Rt. Rev. Phil Labelle, bishop of the Diocese of Olympia. The cathedral echoed with the sounds of African American religious music, old and new, provided by a mass choir under the leadership of Vanessa Bruce and Ryan Ellis. The Eucharistic liturgy, shaped by The Rev. Beverly Moore-Tasy, featured poetry from several African American writers, with the offering for the day going to The Richard Younge Curates of Color Fund to support the ongoing formation of newly ordained people of color in the Diocese of Olympia.
After worship, the community ate traditional barbeque from Berry’s BBQ of Burien. People had the chance to sit, talk, and explore a mixed-media art display by McAlister Merchant, a local Black artist.
The Black/African American Circle looks forward to welcoming you to next year’s Juneteenth Celebration.
