On Saturday, June 19th, the Historically Black Neighborhood of Swarthmore (HBNS) hosted a Juneteenth Jubilee, honoring 100 years since the founding of Wesley A.M.E. Church. Juneteenth, which is now a federal holiday, commemorates the end of slavery by marking the day that enslaved people in Texas learned they were free.

Despite the steady rain, it was a joyful celebration. Several hundred people gathered outside of Wesley A.M.E. Church to kick off the event. Following an opening prayer, Jeannine Osayande led a procession along Brighton Avenue to Umoja Park, while those walking along swung homemade shakers and other celebratory noisemakers.

The procession ended at Swarthmore’s Umoja Park, where the group gathered and heard a recounting of the Great Migration, the history of Swarthmore’s African American community, and the role of the Wesley A.M.E. Church as a longtime focal point of that community. The names of Black lives that have been tragically lost over the years were read aloud. The church’s choir performed, and traditional African music was played. Community speakers shared some ancestral stories of families who live in the HBNS, and highlighted the resilience of that community.

Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, and Councilwoman Sarah Graden also attended the event.