After moving to Lansing from Texas, Gordon Haskins, member of Mask Memorial C.M.E. Church, had a vision. When he realized that Juneteenth, such a largely celebrated holiday in Texas, was not celebrated in the state of Michigan, he knew something had to change.

“He said his vision was for everyone in Lansing to get together, celebrate this
holiday and learn the history of Juneteenth, so his vision became our mission,” said Deborah Plummer, who has been a member of the Lansing Juneteenth committee since its birth 20 years ago.

Haskins died just five years after the first Juneteenth Celebration, but Plummer said his vision has continued to live on and grow.

“After about the sixth year, there were so many vendors and people attending that it became too big to host at the church, so we moved it to the St. Joseph Park,” Plummer said. “The festival is still continuing to grow every year.”

Plummer said the committee wanted a wide variety of activities, but capitalized on things that would epitomize black culture.

“This year, we had a … tribute game, a hip-hop (performance) and several jazz artists,” Plummer said.

Chauncey Young, who served food at the festival for Marsha’s Chicken and Fish, said she has participated in the festival for 15 years and it’s always nice.

“This year, there were more kid’s activities,” Young said. “There was a puppet show, face-painting and a petting zoo earlier that was nice.”

Kathy Brady, a Lansing resident, said this was not her first time attending the Juneteenth Festival. What the festival signifies keeps her coming back.

“I love entertainment, and I especially love live music, so that’s what brought me out today,” said Brady. “I keep coming back because of what this festival stands for. It’s a
celebration, and it’s all for us — that’s important.”