Juneteenth holiday part of the full picture of freedom

Juneteenth is just one part of the full picture of freedom in the United States, but it's no less important than other holidays commemorating liberty in this country, said Chioma Heim.

Heim, director of advising and student services at the WSU College of Arts and Sciences, chairs the Juneteenth celebration committee at Palouse EDJE - Empowering Diversity, Justice, and Equity. The organization will host its annual regional celebration of the holiday in downtown Pullman on Friday.

Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 - June 19th - when enslaved Black Americans in Texas were finally told they were free. Freedom Day has been celebrated for decades in many Black communities.

That wasn't the case growing up in Pullman, Heim said. "It was not taught in our history at all, not something widely recognized or talked about," she said.

That's why showcasing Juneteenth is important, she added.

"I don't want anyone to think Juneteenth takes away from other parts of history that commemorate freedom in the United States," she said. "There are different ways we were able to access freedom historically, and even presently. Why not take the opportunity to learn a little about it so we have the whole picture of where we are today and how we can continue to move forward?"

The Palouse Juneteenth event is a collaboration of local clubs, student groups and nonprofits. It alternates locations between Pullman and Moscow each year. "By passing the hosting torch back and forth across the state line, our two towns show that this historic milestone is a living symbol of solidarity," event organizers said in a news release.