By Michelle M. Ryan
SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill. (June 18, 2024) – On Saturday, June 15, the day was perfect for the 11th annual Juneteenth outdoor celebration and presentation at the Sand Ridge Nature Center, located at 15891 Paxton Avenue in South Holland.
Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Commissioners Bill Lowry and Donna Miller, and state Rep. and Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus Jones were among several guest speakers.
Guest speakers
Preckwinkle welcomed everyone and began with the Forest Preserve Land Acknowledgement, which acknowledges the role played in “shaping the histories of local Native Americans, recognizes, shares and celebrates their immemorial ties to this land, while committing to developing deeper partnerships that advocate for the progress, dignity and humanity of the many diverse Native Americans who still live and practice their heritage and traditions on this land today.”
Preckwinkle thanked the people who stood up for the Union in the Civil War and emphasized that African Americans made up a significant portion of the Union forces in the Civil War — 10% by the end of the war.
“Through our history, we’ve seen a lot of injustice and tragedy and we have to both acknowledge and learn from that past. The future of this nation depends on that understanding,” she said.
Preckwinkle said her staff continually adds events and programs to recognize and celebrate the great diversity of people in Cook County. With 70,000 acres of land, she reminded attendees that “these are YOUR forest preserves,” and everyone should enjoy, benefit, and feel welcome.
Commissioner Lowry said equity, education, health, and injustice need to be focused on 365 days a year, not just on Juneteenth.
“Economic equity is not equality. If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,” said Lowry. “The role of county officials is to take on issues of today while building a bridge for a better tomorrow.”
Commissioner Miller thanked the Forest Preserve District for celebrating Juneteenth long before it became a national holiday. She said, “The south suburbs have so much rich history as evidenced by the many points along the Underground Railroad in and around Cook County Forest preserves. Many of our own families’ histories are intertwined.”
Miller explained that Juneteenth is a day to celebrate, cultivate, promote knowledge and appreciate African American history and culture including freedom and achievement while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures. “Diversity and inclusion are something you live on a daily basis. This is an example of us ‘living diversity,’” she said as she motioned to the gathered crowd.
Rep. Jones stressed the importance of listening to the stories told by our parents and passing them along. “We have to make sure we are good stewards of our stories. All of our stories matter.”
Song, dance, and more
After the speeches, Lana Lewis sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” while the audience sang along with a printout of the lyrics. A dance troupe, Dance 4 Our Lives, ended the presentation.
Other parts of the event included performances by the Little Calumet River Underground Railroad Project, a documentary called Rooted Wisdom, a guided walk, music by Sounds Natural, story-telling by Faith in Place, and a station to make tie-dyed bandanas. Information tables were nearby featuring the Pullman Historical Monument and the Lansing Public Library. Food included various cakes offered in a cabin, a hotdog roast, and food trucks.
Juneteenth connection
The final presentation was by Annamarie Swails, great-granddaughter of Stephen Atkins Swails, a Civil War hero. A slideshow of her family was featured and several books were on display. Over 20 books have been written about him. The movie “Glory” was based on the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment involving him. Swails’ family was never consulted for this movie and it was not accurate, she said.
Swails found out she was related to Stephen Swails after meeting a man at a family event in South Carolina who knew the last name from the military. This led to research at a public library and she recognized other relatives. She encountered a wealth of information about Stephen Swails. Among his many achievements were being a state senator from 1868 – 1878, a mayor, an attorney, a newspaper editor, and teaching African Americans how to read and write with the Freedom Bureau.
Swails is working on developing a postage stamp for her great-grandfather, as he was a true leader and played a major role in the war. In 1865, Stephen Swails was discharged from the army and it took five years to receive his honors because he was the first African-American to become a sergeant. Many African-American men wanted to serve in the war to heighten their status but weren’t allowed to enlist until the Emancipation Proclamation.
Although the Emancipation Proclamation stated “that all persons held as slaves are, and henceforward shall be free,” and was declared by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, “the order only applied to territories currently held by the Confederacy. Southerners did not recognize Lincoln’s authority, and in many cases slaveowners and whites simply withheld the news from enslaved people,” according to History.com.
The news didn’t arrive until Robert E. Lee’s surrender, ending the Civil War.
“On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas and proclaimed the news to the enslaved people there,” the History.com article states.
The Texas Legislature passed a bill declaring Juneteenth a state holiday on June 7, 1979, and was the first state to do so. Almost all 50 states officially observe Juneteenth.
