Organizers of the June 19 celebrations in a South Carolina town have apologized after announcing the event with a white-only banner.
Residents of Greenville were shocked to see the banner hanging from a lamppost in their town, presenting the event as “a celebration of freedom, unity and love”.
“Meanwhile in Greenville, SC…” the Black-Owned SC account tweeted, along with a puzzled face emoji.
Several people accused the organizers of trying to “gentrify” the event.
“Yeah…You’re already gentrifying Juneteenth,” one said.
Greenville, South Carolina announces its June 19 celebrations with a banner featuring a white couple
‘WHAT?! Gentrification of #Juneteenth?’ asked another.
“Is Captain Marvel coming to gentrify Juneteenth?” said another.
Another asked, “Who approved this? I know Greenville has black people there.
One said the images were symptomatic of a wider problem.
“This is how black history is completely twisted, repackaged, to be acceptable to white Americans, and then erased,” she said.
“It’s 100% hurt. It’s 100% embracing the idea that we can’t be whole on our own. Not even for a day.
Some thought the image of a white couple, used to advertise the black festival, was fake.
‘I know you are lying. Who is responsible for this?!’ one person asked.
One of them replied: “Not wrong!” The whole committee is also full of blacks.
Rueben Hays, who is black, co-founded the organizing group, Juneteenth GVL, with two other black men.
The board is all black, as are the staff, according to their website.
They started hosting Juneteenth celebrations last year.
Hays apologized Thursday for the banner and stressed that it was one of many, designed with the aim of being inclusive.
Rueben Hays, executive director of Juneteenth GVL, apologized for the banner on Thursday
The committee produced several posters, but one featured only white people
“Juneteenth GVL would like to apologize to the community for the presence of non-black faces depicted on two flags representing Juneteenth,” it said in a statement.
“We acknowledge that this error was made and will correct the error promptly.
“This mistake was an attempt to unite all of Greenville and therefore a slight oversight on the part of one individual that has prevented us from fully embracing the rich potential and celebrating the depth of black culture through message and meaning. of Juneteenth.
“We take full responsibility for this misstep. Our dedicated team has worked tirelessly to deliver remarkable Juneteenth experiences…and we are planning a great celebration that everyone will be pleased and proud of.
“Moving forward, we are committed to ensuring that our events fully reflect the diversity, inclusivity and historical significance of Juneteenth.”
The federal holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, the date the last slaves were finally freed, completing the work of the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863.
That day, 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, and announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state were free by executive order.
Joe Biden has declared June 19 a federal holiday in 2021.
