Wilmington community celebrates Juneteenth with annual breakfast

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Community members gathered Friday morning at the Martin Luther King Center to celebrate Juneteenth Freedom Day during the Juneteenth Committee of Wilmington’s annual breakfast.

Juneteenth, a federal holiday, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and marks the day enslaved African Americans in Texas learned of their freedom in 1865.

Over a breakfast spread of eggs, grits, and waffles, attendees reflected on the significance of the holiday and the importance of preserving its history.

“We must understand and celebrate our history at every point and time,” said Kemeka Sidbury, who emceed the event on behalf of the Juneteenth Committee of Wilmington.

Sidbury said the community has a responsibility to continue recognizing and honoring Juneteenth.

“We don’t have to wait on anyone to do anything; we can do this work ourselves,” she said.

She also emphasized the importance of remembering the struggles and achievements of previous generations.

“We have to remember from once which we came, and we have to celebrate that, even though that history is there, but we still have a resilience, and we have celebration to account for those who have brought us here in the present,” said Sidbury.

Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo participated in the ceremony by reading a Juneteenth proclamation. He said the holiday’s nickname, Freedom Day, reflects its significance.

“It’s called Freedom Day, and it’s an important day for our communities, and of course, we recognized it as a holiday for the City of Wilmington, and of course, it’s important for all of our people to understand how important this particular amendment was to the United States Constitution,” said Mayor Saffo.

Wilmington City Councilwoman Chakema Clinton-Quintana said annual celebrations help educate people about the meaning of Juneteenth while bringing the community together.

“There are a lot of people who still don’t know the true meaning of Juneteenth and so, and that’s what helps celebrate Juneteenth every year, right? It’s a great time to bring people together to get educated but also share a meal, celebrate, and many other things,” said Clinton-Quintana.

Organizers said the annual breakfast serves as both a celebration of freedom and an opportunity to reflect on the nation’s history while encouraging continued education and community engagement.