Cairo, Illinois community raises awareness, celebrates Juneteenth 

CAIRO, Ill. (KBSI) — Monday, the community of Cairo, Illinois came together to celebrate Juneteenth with a brunch, marking the culmination of a week filled with community events.   

The weekend-long series of events was organized by Brittany Matthews, who collaborated with local businesses to secure venues for the various activities.  

Some of the highlights were a family day and youth dance, where attendees enjoyed a festive atmosphere and engaged in self-awareness activities and kindness bingo. Gift bags were distributed, adding to the excitement of the event. 

For Carol Childress, a resident of Cairo, Juneteenth holds a special place in her heart, and she prefers it over celebrating the Fourth of July.  

“I like to celebrate Juneteenth instead of the 4th of July,” said Childress. “I see no point in celebrating the 4th if I’m going to celebrate my freedom.” 

Both Matthews and Childress emphasized the importance of hosting Juneteenth celebrations to educate children and others who may be unaware of the historical significance of the holiday.  

Matthews stressed the lack of information about Juneteenth in schools, 

“Growing up in schools, this information was not given to us. It was not anything that we had in our hands to learn about our history. So, it’s very important that the residents of this community come out to know more about Juneteenth,” said Matthews. 

Childress echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the need for active participation in celebrating freedom.  

She urged the community, saying, “We need people to participate in our freedom, celebrating our freedom. This hits home right here. Celebrate your being free. That’s a reason to celebrate.” 

The events in Cairo served as an opportunity for the community to come together, honor the historical significance of Juneteenth, and raise awareness about the holiday’s importance.