By Gabbie Burton
Contributing Writer

Lincoln University and Voices Underground held a Juneteenth celebration themed around Black joy on June 22, a full day of events that featured a historic session on emancipation, faith service at the university chapel and a cookout with games, vendors and food from Teen’s Place in Oxford.

To begin the day, Lincoln University Chaplain Rev. Dr. Frederick Faison - who helped organize the event - shared the five joys that inspired the theme of the day: the joy of the Black child, the joy of the Black community, the joy of the Black church, the joy of the Black university and the joy of the Black culture.

“I call those five the Joys of Grace, and today, this story will resonate,” Faison said.

Dr. Cheryl Gooch, a former academic dean at Lincoln University, gave a presentation about the genesis of Juneteenth, the Emancipation Proclamation and the legacy of local historic figures.

Gooch explained how emancipation was granted in phases, first with the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, then with General Order No. 3 issued in Galveston Texas on June 19, 1865, informing the people of Texas that all enslaved people were now to be free, and finally with the ratification of the 13th Amendment in December 1865 which officially abolished slavery.

Gooch emphasized how some communities across history and today celebrate Emancipation Day while others celebrate Juneteenth, but noted the importance of distinguishing between the two as equally important but distinct events in the history of Black liberation and freedom in the U.S.

“The Emancipation Proclamation and the Juneteenth date are a part of that continuum of the struggle for freedom,” Gooch said.

Additionally, Gooch shared the significance of Hinsonville, a free Black community founded in the 1820s that existed on the same land that Lincoln University now sits. Following the Emancipation Proclamation, the United States Colored Troops were formed and about 900 men from Chester County enlisted, including 18 from Hinsonville.

“These United States Colored Troops in their military roles became agents of emancipation, Black joy and Black agency,” Gooch said.

Following the history presentation, Faison led a short march to Hosanna AUMP Church which sits at the front of the university on Baltimore Pike and is the last remaining structure from Hinsonville. Gooch, who serves as the Friends of Hosanna AUMP Church president, explained the significance of the site as a stop on the Underground Railroad and acknowledged the cemetery outside the church which important members of the Hinsonville community and Lincoln history are buried in.

“The 18 men from this community who served in the United States Colored Troops worshipped here and 11 of them are buried here,” she said.

Faison held a memorial outside the church where he thanked ancestors for the joy of Black culture and church before leading attendees back to the campus chapel for a church service.

Faison welcomed Dean of First Year Students Fred-Rick Roundtree; Pastor Larry Redmond from The New Life Church in Newark, Del.; and Adjunct Professor Rev. Curtis Morris of Bethany Baptist in Chester, Pa. for the hour-long service. The services revolved around themes of Black joy and freedom while Roundtree left worshippers with a poignant reminder.

“In minor ways we differ, in major we are the same,” he said. “We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.”

After the service, a cookout was held on the lawns outside the chapel with games, a DJ and vendors from local businesses and organizations. Voices Underground Executive Director LaNisha Cassell explained that they wanted the event to be more community accessible than past iterations and made the entire event free in order to do so.

Raquel Lightner attended the event to support Voices Underground and Lincoln but also recognized the greater significance the day held.

“Juneteenth is important,” she said. “It’s important to celebrate our ancestors and make sure their dreams aren’t lost.”

Any ancestor’s dreams of Black joy were certainly not lost at the event and were instead celebrated as the intention of Faison and other speakers and organizers were clear for everyone to see.

“Black joy is for everybody, that joy is for everybody,” Faison said. “Lincoln is Black joy.”

To contact Contributing Writer Gabbie Burton, email [email protected].