Celebrating Juneteenth: Building Power from History

“At Foot Soldiers Park, Juneteenth is not just symbolic, it’s strategic. It’s where truth and joy and memory and activation all come together. And we use that power of the holiday so we can meet people where they are.”

– Kimberly Smitherman, CEO and Founding Partner

At Foot Soldiers Park, we intentionally celebrate pivotal moments in civil rights history not only to honor the individuals and communities who were instrumental in societal progress and to ensure that their struggles are not forgotten, but to foster awareness of the challenges that those of our past have overcome and the lessons learned — because we know that awareness can inform and inspire present and future decisions.

This year’s Still We Rise Juneteenth celebration was no different. We commemorated June 19, 1865 when enslaved Black Americans in Texas finally learned that the Emancipation Proclamation officially ended slavery two years earlier.

The community joined us for a lively celebration chock full of live entertainment, dancing, carnival rides, face painting, good food, and an opportunity to support local businesses.

As part of our commitment to honoring Selma’s civil rights past, we recognized 1965 foot soldier Ms. Barbara Barge who continues to share her powerful story and work to preserve the legacy of Selma’s historic role in the racial justice movement by serving as one of Foot Soldiers Park’s tour guides.

Most importantly, the event served as a reminder of Selma’s long commitment to freedom and why today more than ever, we need to build on the resilience of those who came before us, cross bridges we haven’t crossed before, and do our best as civically active people to fuel lasting and positive change.

Just as enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, experienced delayed freedom in 1865, Selma’s Black residents today continue to face similar injustice. This ongoing struggle is evident in systemic inequality, persistent barriers to voting access, and profound community disinvestment.

“We want to make sure that we preserve our history, but also, to make sure that we utilize that history to activate our community and especially our youth,” Founding Partner and CEO, Kimberly Smitherman told attendees.

As part of the day’s events, Kim spoke to actor, comedian and radio host John Fugelsang on his SiriusXM show “Tell Me Everything”. She shared the key components of community activation and how tapping into the knowledge and expertise of the people who are most negatively affected by the harmful systems is just the first step, equipping them with the knowledge, skills and tools to change them is what drives real transformation.

“We don’t come in as saviors,” Kim told the host. “We [want] to make sure that we have an informed and engaged civic community so that they can know that their voices have power. They have the power to make change.”

Foot Soldiers Park impact and programmatic areas are focused on educating, employing, and empowering Selma’s residents and next generation of foot soldiers through civic education, youth leadership programs, art, economic development initiatives and strategic partnerships to build a vibrant, thriving and self-sustaining community.

“We refer to [the foot soldiers] as the ordinary people who did extraordinary things… and we want everybody to have that same sense of ability in their [own] voice [today],” said Kim.

You can listen to more of Kim’s interview on “Tell Me Everything” where she also talks about what other communities similar to Selma can learn from Foot Soldiers Park and how her personal background shaped her view of racial justice and the work ahead.

In addition, Kim Juneteenth’s opinion piece was featured on the news outlet Common Dreams where she emphasized further the significance of Juneteenth and why Foot Soldiers Park’s mission is so relevant today.

Looking ahead, as we celebrate our heroes of the past, we must also not forget that our democracy remains fragile, our liberties are under threat again, and as a resilient community, we need bold leaders to show the way.