A Sankofa Moment

By Jonathan Gramling

While Madison has celebrated Juneteenth Day — June 19, 1865 when the last of the Confederate state slaves learned that they had been freed by the Emancipation Proclamation — for the past 33 years, perhaps it was the thrill of celebrating Juneteenth Day as a national holiday that brought people out in force on a perfect Saturday afternoon on June 18^th. It started with the parade beginning at Fountain of Life Church — addressed by Governor Tony Evers — with group after group marching proudly down S. Park Street and ended in Penn Park. Festivalgoers filled the park where they were met with the aroma of tasty food and the vibes of great music drifting through the air. There were information booths galore and activities for people of all ages. It was a happy day, a sort of family reunion has people greeted each other and hugged. It was a day worth celebrating, the beginning of freedom for all.