Community Corner
Praise for Juneteenth Gospel Fundraiser
Peekskill's first Juneteenth gospel fundraiser filled the hearts and ears of those in attendance.
June 19, 1865, marks a historic day in American history, which is now recognized as “Juneteenth”—a day that represents the nationwide announcement of the abolition of slavery.
This year the city of Peekskill will celebrate Juneteenth on Saturday, June 18 by having its first parade for the occasion. To prepare for the event, the city held a gospel fundraiser at the Peekskill Middle School on Saturday.
The auditorium filled with praise, rejoicing and and song as Rev. Adolphus Lacey introduced choirs from his parish Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, Lady Peachena & Youth Bureau and Bethel Baptist Church. The event also saw the interpretive dance stylings of the Divine Sisters of Worship, who used the power of movement to express their love for their religion and their fellow man.
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William Sales, a professor of Africana studies at Seton Hall University, and the spoken word artist Ibrahim Saadiq spoke of the importance of educating people about the historic day.
“This is not only about celebration, but about education,” said Lacey, as he introduced Sales.
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“Juneteenth is the oldest continuous celebration of the end of slavery still recognized in the United States,” Sales told the crowd. "It’s important to remember those great and good things that we’ve done in this country so that we can rise again to those commanding heights and do more good things for ourselves and for our country and for the world.”
