Festival celebrates Juneteenth in downtown Cortland

06/10/2025

The Cortland community gathered to celebrate Juneteenth on Saturday, June 14, as part of the fifth annual celebration led by the Cortland County Community of Color (C4) network.

C4 — a collaborative initiative between SUNY Cortland and Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) — hosted the official recognition of Black American emancipation in Courthouse Park in downtown Cortland.

“This annual event, now a cornerstone of C4’s outreach and cultural engagement efforts, celebrates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and honors the ongoing pursuit of equity, justice and collective empowerment,” said organizer Bernice Cooper, a SUNY Cortland Campus Technology Services administrative professional.

The event featured dance performances, informational vendor booths, children’s activities and remarks about the significance of the day.

Understanding Juneteenth

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, commemorates June 19, 1865, the day Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and enforced the Emancipation Proclamation, officially freeing the last remaining enslaved African Americans in the Confederacy. Although President Abraham Lincoln had issued the proclamation over two years earlier, enforcement had not reached many areas still under Confederate control.

Recognized as the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021. While the official holiday is observed on June 19, many communities, including Cortland, host celebrations on nearby dates to increase accessibility and participation. This year, Cortland County observed the holiday on Saturday, June 14.

Program Highlights

Yolanda Clarke, an assistant professor of health at SUNY Cortland, delivered the event’s honorary keynote address, drawing on encounters and experiences following the theme of “James,” from writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin to her former mentor at Cornell University, James Turner, to the Book of James in the Bible.

“One of the earliest values I learned was to be proud of who I was no matter what was going on around me,” Clarke said. “Yes, Black pride and rhythm. Rhythm keeps the blood and creativity flowing.”

She encouraged the crowd to find purpose and joy.

In addition to celebrating emancipation and progress, this year’s event also honored the legacy and memory of Regina Grantham, last year’s Juneteenth keynote speaker and an associate professor emeritus of SUNY Cortland’s Communication Disorders and Sciences Department.

Clarke shared a quote from American memoirist and poet Maya Angelou that Grantham often emphasized: “The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.”

The event also featured two performances by Erin Lantry, a professional dancer from Los Angeles who performs burlesque and jazz throughout the region. Lantry’s dances included “Zoot Suit,” which embodied African American contributions to early jazz, and “Wade in the Water.”

A Call to Celebrate and Reflect

“Juneteenth is more than a historical marker,” Cooper said. “It is a reminder of the ongoing journey toward equity and liberation. Through this annual event, C4 aims to foster education, engagement and empowerment within the community, while honoring those whose contributions have paved the way.

“The C4 Committee warmly invites all members of the Cortland community and surrounding areas to join in this year’s Juneteenth Celebration. Rain or shine, the day promises to be one of reflection, joy and unity.”

Community Supporters

The celebration also featured a diverse lineup of local vendors and organizations offering information, services and products that reflect the community’s spirit of inclusion and collaboration.

Participants included: YWCA Cortland, SPLAT Sumthin LLC, Family Planning of South Central New York, Cortland LGBTQ Center, Grace & Holy Spirit Church, Office of Senator Lea Webb, Indivisible Cortland County, Cortland County Mobility Management Program, Madam Hatter’s Tea House & Shopping Emporium (Just Chill Custom Gifting by Carol LLC), Cortland County Health Department, League of Women Voters of Cortland County, and Guava Spa.

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