Sounds of Luther Vandross and Michael Jackson covers ran through the air of Blue Back Square in West Hartford Thursday as the second Jubilation Thursday went underway.
This month marks the seventh-year West Hartford has held Juneteenth celebrations, but this celebration looks a bit different from years past.
Instead of doing a traditional one-day festival to commemorate the federal holiday recognizing the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in 1865, West Hartford town officials opted to spread their Juneteenth celebrations across three weeks, marking the beginning of Jubilation Thursdays.
The idea came from the mind of Adrienne Billings-Smith, West Hartford’s employee development & community engagement manager.
“We are constantly competing, all the towns, in a way of getting the same artists, the same day, the same time, and selfishly of me, I wanted to go to other people’s Juneteenth events as well," Billings-Smith said.
With new weekly performances from local artists and participation from vendors, Jubilation Thursdays has become a way to build community and spread other aspects of American History, according to Billings-Smith.
Lynn Roch, founder and CEO of ‘Skin C.R.A.C.K,’ an acronym for (Cream Rejuvenation and Care Kit) says Jubilation Thursdays not only provide good exposure for small business owners like herself, but the celebration is an inclusive way for everyone to participate in a piece of American history.
“African American culture isn’t just one day and that it is an integration of so many parts and things that can be shared with everyone and celebrated by everyone,” Billings-Smith said.
Billings-Smith emphasized that celebrations like Jubilation Thursdays are important, especially as the United States prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4. “I think when you’re having events like this, and telling stories, it’s super important because it’s a part of American history, and uplifting these stories, these voices and these triumphs are huge, not only for us as a community, but this entire country,” Billings-Smith said.
West Hartford will hold its last Jubilation Thursday this month in the evening of June 18 in Blue Back Square.
