Juneteenth Celebration at Aurora University

Aurora University hosted a Juneteenth event on Friday afternoon, featuring music, performances, speeches, and a flag-raising ceremony. Organized by Aurora in Black, the Aurora African American Heritage Advisory Board, and the Quad County Urban League, the event aimed to promote education, empowerment, and community celebration.

Juneteenth, officially celebrated on June 19, marks the end of slavery in the United States. Though President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865, that enslaved African Americans in Texas were freed.

In Aurora, the annual flag-raising ceremony is named after Scheketa Hart-Burns. She was the first Black person elected to the Aurora City Council in 1991 and served for 32 years until she passed away on Juneteenth in 2023.

The event began with a March of Black Excellence, featuring over 100 Black youth from middle school to college. The flag-raising was followed by a performance of the Black National Anthem by Chicago recording artist Nialand. Earlier in the day, a five-hour Juneteenth Youth Summit took place on campus.

Clayton Muhammad, founder of Aurora in Black, emphasized the importance of hosting the event at a college campus. He stated, “We focus on higher education and highlight post-secondary opportunities, whether college or trade school.” Muhammad aims to center conversations on these opportunities for youth.

The press release mentioned that Juneteenth became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, signed into law by President Joe Biden. In Illinois, it was established as a state holiday on June 16, 2021, by Gov. JB Pritzker with House Bill 3922, effective January 1, 2022.

During the event, awards such as the Junior Trailblazer Award went to elementary school entrepreneurs. Additionally, $20,000 in scholarships was awarded to the Class of 2026 Cowherd Scholars. Muhammad noted this as a key highlight for the year.

On Friday, June 19, 2026, over 200 people gathered at Aurora University to witness the flag-raising. Attendees expressed that the event promoted freedom, unity, and understanding.

“The day highlights Black freedom and unites races,” said Elijah Santana from Aurora. “We need to remember and celebrate,” added Vanessa Gaddy, also from Aurora. “It’s important to recognize our forefathers’ struggles, and now we have this celebration.”

Betty Gaddy of Oswego agreed, saying, “We have to understand our history is our history.” Standing beside her granddaughter, she shared hopes for a better future, emphasizing unity beyond race.