Iowa Juneteenth: Dwana Bradley
Educating Iowans about the History and Importance of Juneteenth
Dwana Bradley wants people to know that Juneteenth is American history. She is on a mission to educate all of Iowa. Bradley is the general chairperson of Iowa Juneteenth. The organization is dedicated to educating Iowans about the history and importance of this federal holiday.
Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom and is reflected in this year’s theme: Free to Be.
“I’m on a mission to make sure people understand what we’re celebrating and to dispel the misinformation that comes with that. Also, it’s about educating people about our past.”
When Bradley speaks of the past, she is talking about June 19, 1865, when Union troops rode into Galveston, Texas, to deliver the news of freedom to an estimated 250,000 enslaved people. Slavery did not end on June 19, 1865. President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation into law in 1863.
Bradley wants to ensure that Iowans don’t forget.
She says, “It’s great to focus on the Des Moines area, but it has always been a vision of mine to take this across the state of Iowa.”
Bradley and her team will begin traveling the state to spread the word about Juneteenth this month. The city of Ottumwa is the first stop.
Bradley says while it is fun to focus on the food, the vendors, and the music that characterize Juneteenth celebrations, she also wants Iowans to focus on the education and the history of the holiday.
“We’re paying respect to the lived experiences of Black people,” says Bradley.
She continues, “We live in a time where we don’t want to talk about the past. I’m here to say let’s learn from the past so that we don’t repeat it. We don’t want to head in that direction. I feel that’s what Juneteenth is about. It’s about having those honest conversations about the past. Let’s be mindful of the direction that we’re going. Let’s be mindful of the laws that we pass and the systems that are in place,” says Bradley.
Though Monday is the official holiday, Juneteenth celebrations are happening today in Des Moines, Ankeny, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo and other parts of Iowa.
To learn more about Iowa Juneteenth go to
https://www.iowajuneteenth.org/
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