Adande Becton, an 11-year homeschooled girl from Maywood, was among the winners of ASE Production’s first, Jubilee SPEAKS! Oratorical Essay Competition held at The 19th Century Charitable Association this month in observance of the Juneteenth national holiday.
Wearing red as a symbol of the blood and resilience of their ancestors who did not make it to freedom – and plenty of Black pride – elementary through high school students delivered speeches and essays on either Black liberation or the importance of celebrating Juneteenth.
With a little help from her dad, Eric Becton, the young influencer, who also has a makeup tutorial YouTube channel called Sparkle Girls HQ, said the goal of her essay was to make clear why it’s important for African American descendants of enslaved ancestors to celebrate what’s now a federally mandated holiday.
“In my speech I said, ‘We should celebrate Juneteenth because it celebrates the ending of some of the harshest oppression of African people and we should make the celebration about learning what was inflicted on humanity.”
Recorded as June 19, 1865, two and half years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, with 2,000 Union troops to tell the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people that they were free.
At the competition, empowered with the conviction to share the truth of their history, the participants were judged on poise, effect, clarity, and content.
The winners were: Adeyemi Griffin, an Oak Parker who attends Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School; Ryann Dawson from Broadview, a rising junior at Fenwick High School; Maya Dawson, a Lindop Elementary School student also from Broadview; and Peyton Worsham from River Forest, a Roosevelt Middle School student.
Broadview mayor, Katrina Thompson was present to hear the girls’ presentation.
Winners received $150 cash prize, a $25 gift card, and a “swag bag” filled with things such as a Juneteenth journal, a bag filled with health maintenance products, a Black Girl Magic makeup bag, T-shirt created by local Black owned Shabby Fly Designs, books about Juneteenth and Black inventors from Afriware Books, Gifts and Cultural Events.
Oak Parkers Aliyah Bryant, Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School, and Journey Willis, Oak Park River Forest High School were the two emcees who participated in the event. They received a swag bag and a $50 Visa gift card. A high school student vendor and the flag bearer also received a $50 Visa gift card.
Oak Park Community Relations Commissioner Juanta Griffin, founder of Ase’ Productions, a community organization that aims to uplift Black culture in Oak Park and neighboring communities, organized and hosted the event to provide youth a more prominent voice in Juneteenth observance.
Her 13-year old daughter, Adeyemi was one of the winners.
“My favorite part in her speech about the importance of celebrating Juneteenth is her line about her favorite thing about Juneteenth [which] is line dancing with her grandma. She also said that liberation and freedom is not something that anyone else can give us, it’s something that we give ourselves.”
Griffin praised all the speeches, noting how well-written and well-delivered they all were. Ryan Dawson, for instance, spoke in her Black liberation-themed speech about how African Americans are still working toward their freedom and going through the same struggles.
Families of the winners and honored guests enjoyed a free, Juneteenth Southern Style meal with specific significance and colors, such as red and green food items prepared by Executive Chef Marcell Dukes of The 19th Century Club. BBQ chicken, collard greens with smoked turkey, oven-baked macaroni and cheese, coleslaw and honey baked cornbread were part of the menu. Vegan options, red velvet cake, a special red drink and sweet tea were also on the menu.
New Hope Community Gospel Choir was part of the performances. The choir sang songs of freedom directed by LaTonia Jackson during the luncheon.
Griffin pulled the event off with a bit of hard work and support from fellow CRC member Yoko Teretta and D97 School Board member Venus Hurd.
“I just wanted to help support Juanta,” Teretta said. “She has an innate natural vision for programs the community needs. Also, I feel like with her vision for Juneteenth, she invites all people to the table which is so important. My role is important only from the standpoint that I want to see more people who look like me volunteering and supporting what rightly is a national holiday.”
Teretta added they are grateful for all the financial support they received for the program.
Former OPRF student Hasani Cannon designed the T-shirts for the Village of Oak Park for the Juneteenth observance, titled “Fawohodie,” a 20×30 inch acrylic paint marker original drawing. Fawohodie represents freedom and independence depicted as the gold X on top of the figure’s headdress. Malcolm X’s conviction to Black liberation was also central to his inspiration.
Both state and locally elected officials were in attendance.
“This was our first time doing this event,” Griffin said. “We hope to do it again next year.”
Attendees were also treated to a special rap performance by Oak Parker Ajani Griffin, Jauanta’s son.
Ase’ Productions also was an original organizer and host of Oak Park’s Juneteenth Cookout and Parade.
Correction, June 25, 4:23 p.m.: This article was updated to reflect that Ase’ Productions no longer hosts the Juneteenth Cookout and Parade. This year, the Village of Oak Park and others hosted the celebration. A parade no longer is held. We apologize for the error.