Photo by Deb Gau Members of Titambe West African Dance Ensemble shared traditional drumming, music and dance during Juneteenth celebrations in Marshall.

MARSHALL — Juneteenth is not just a holiday, Cassie Williams said. It’s a reminder of the hardships African Americans have endured, and a celebration of Black culture.

“It’s a time to educate, to gather with community, a time of reflection of the past and future,” said Williams, a former Marshall resident and a speaker at Wednesday’s Juneteenth celebrations in Marshall. “It is a time to be loud and proud of our history and culture, and to not allow the erasure of our history. And it is a time to address injustices, to build a community and country where all of us would like to live abundantly.”

Marshall held Juneteenth events on Wednesday, including a downtown food truck festival around lunchtime, and music, games and speakers at Justice Park in the evening. The celebrations included performances by Titambe West African Dance Ensemble, and by singer Kimberly Brown. Brown was part of the Grammy Award-winning group Sounds of Blackness for 15 years, and has performed with many national artists.

Marshall’s celebrations were made possible with help from area organizations, said Marshall City Administrator Sharon Hanson. Organizers received a total of $5,500 in contributions from Avera, the Southwest Initiative Foundation, Southwest Minnesota State University, and the MORE Network, Hanson said. Visit Marshall also helped advertise the events, she said.

Wednesday’s events weren’t only a chance to have fun. Speakers also reflected on the meaning of Juneteenth.

“Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom, and also a time of reflection,” Marshall Mayor Bob Byrnes said, in welcoming remarks to people gathered at the park. “It’s a time for dedication to all of the principles that are important for equality for everyone in our community.”

Williams shared some of her poetry, as well as reflections on the history of Juneteenth, as she spoke to the crowd.

“In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation declared that all slaves of Confederate states were free. But Texas was still under Confederate control, and slavery was still in place. On June 19, 1865, federal troops led by U.S. General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, two-and-a-half years after the announcing of freed slaves. The 13th Amendment formally abolished slavery,” Williams said.

“Juneteenth does not simply commemorate the end of chattel slavery, but freedom to access new knowledge and opportunity, which was and is continuously under attack,” Williams said.

“As we know, the fight for true freedom and justice continues,” Williams said. Black people still face racism and violence in America, she said.

Williams said it was exciting to be back in Marshall to speak at a Juneteenth event. It meant a lot of work had been going on in the community, she said.

“It’s just beautiful seeing people from all walks of life gathered today, finding this day important,” she said. “Black history, Native American history, Asian American history is American history.”