Northern Michigan E3 has helped pave the way for anti-racism work in Northern Michigan.
On Saturday, they furthered that mission by hosting a Juneteenth block party.
Council member, Tyasha Harrison says, “To be a place where we consider ourselves the home of the free and the brave we have to really acknowledge that for a long while not everybody was free.”
Juneteenth is a day to commemorate the freedom of African-Americans slaves in America.
For Tyasha Harrison, it is the true Independence Day of the country.
Harrison says, “When we as a nation got our independence black people were still enslaved. So I feel that this is a really important moment not just for people of color but for everyone.”
Northern Michigan E3 along with other Traverse City organizations like TART Trails and the Traverse Area District Library held the celebration at F&M Park.
They say making Juneteenth a federal holiday is not enough.
“Nationally, federalization is great but reparations. We need reparations and police accountability,” says council member, Courtney Wiggins. “We need to make sure we’re advancing things and we’re not taking a step back.”
They took the day to help educate people on how they can actively work to be anti-racist.
They say their next goal is to focus on ending cash bail in the state.
Council member, Holly T. Bird says, “This is something that effects our BIPOC community and effects poor people as well in a very disproportionate manner. So we’re asking people to write letters, to write postcards to our legislature.”
Northern Michigan E3 says the real work starts when you talk about systemic racism.
“We say show up, speak up, engage with each other, educate each other. Get to know your neighbor who might be different than you and celebrate that difference,” says Bird.
The organization says they are excited to see their Juneteenth celebration grow of the upcoming years.
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