Juneteenth To Be Celebrated In Scotch Plains Saturday

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — Social Justice Matters, Inc. (SJM), with Scotch Plains and Fanwood, will be marking Juneteenth 2021 with a multidimensional celebration: "Roots and Wings: The Art and Tradition of Storytelling and the Black Experience."

The series of events on Saturday, June 19, with sponsorship from PSE&G and other community enterprises, will feature multiple programs in Scotch Plains for people of all ages.

The events will run at various times from 2:30 to 10:35 p.m. Most events will take place at Shady Rest/Scotch Hills Country Club, 820 Jerusalem Road, Scotch Plains, and a few will take place at Jerseyland Park, 2373 Richmond St., Scotch Plains.

The SJM Juneteenth schedule is as follows:

At Jerseyland Park:

• 2:30 p.m. - Story Stroll opens at Jerseyland Park, 2373 Richmond St., Scotch Plains. Book on display will be All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom, by Angela Johnson and E.B. Lewis.
• 2:45 p.m.- Author Robert Constant (Hey Tuskegee!, Hello Grandma!) will read from one of his books.

At Shady Rest:

• 3 - 5 p.m. - Mini golf. Admittance to registered groups of up to 5 players at 10-minute intervals.
• 3 - 5 p.m. - Putting instruction for children ages 5-18, given by members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and SJM.
• 3 - 4 p.m. - Shady Rest Tour 1.
• 4 - 5 p.m. - Shady Rest Tour 2.
• 4 - 4:30 p.m.- Karate demonstration by Goshu-Kwan Studio students. No registration.
• 4:30 - 5 p.m. - Dedication Ceremony.
• 5 - 10:30 p.m. - Entertainment. Register for any segment between 5-10:30 PM with a single registration.
• 5 - 5:30 p.m.- Dream House Theater Company presents a one-act play.
• 5:40 - 5:55 p.m.- Emerson Theatre Group Performance I.
• 6 - 6:30 p.m.- Poetry & Flow Experience — Raymon Royal Productions.
• 6:40 - 6:55 p.m.- Emerson Theatre Group Performance II.
• 7 - 8 p.m. - Music by Amani.
• 8:30 - 10:35 p.m.- Movie: Harriet (PG-13).

In addition, a virtual workshop for high school students and adults will run from 1 to 2:30 p.m., "Creating Oral Histories: Learn How to Create Recordings that Preserve Memories, Stories and Voices."

"This year's theme celebrates the importance of telling one's own story. 'Roots' give grounding through the stories that tell us where we have come from, and 'wings' allow us to be led into the future," said Tashira Wheeler, chair of SJM’s Juneteenth 2021 Committee.

Video of selected programs will be streamed on local channels if rain or COVID restrictions require.

Registration is required for each event unless otherwise stated. Guests should bring a chair or blanket if they wish to sit. For the schedule, locations and registration information, visit spfjuneteenth.com or socialjusticematters.org.

Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the end of slavery, is now also a state holiday. In September 2020, Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation that designates the third Friday in June as a state and public holiday.

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