Oregon Mother Of Juneteenth Leaves Lasting Legacy

By Shirley Chan

Published June 20, 2016 at 10:03 AM PDT

Portland celebrated Juneteenth’s 151st anniversary Saturday.

Following the October 2015 death of Clara Peoples, known as the Mother of Juneteenth, Portland’s annual celebration continued her legacy of bringing the community together.

Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, marks the anniversary of June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger read “General Order No. 3” in Galveston, Texas, declaring the liberation of slaves.

The celebration of Juneteenth in Portland dates back to 1945 when Peoples introduced the tradition from Muskogee, Oklahoma, to her co-workers at the Kaiser Shipyard. The annual parade is named after Peoples for bringing the African American tradition to Oregon.

This year’s theme was "Bridging the Gap."

“It’s the educational gap. It’s the community gap. It’s the cultural gap,” said Doris Rush, niece and Oregon State Director of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation or NJOF.

Jenelle Jack, Peoples' granddaughter, is the head of Portland’s Juneteenth committee. She and Rush grew up admiring Peoples’ dedication to the community.

“She was my superhero, my confidante, my best friend,” Jack said. "She was my hero.”

The mission of Juneteenth is not only uniting the African American community, but bringing all communities together.

“What’s wrong with Oregon is that we are still separated,” said Woodrow Broadnax, Oregon State Director of NJOF. “Let us move together as one.”

Broadnax worked closely with Peoples and echoes her sentiments about the importance of African American history, because it is a part of America’s history. He said Juneteenth is as important as the Fourth of July.

“You got two freedoms in America,” Broadnax said. “It’s a fact: June 19, 1865, and July 4, 1776.”

At the celebration Saturday, Portland Mayor Charlie Hales said Peoples had an impact on Portland’s African-American community.

“When the African American community resettled in Northeast Portland from Vanport, people started finding ways to create community life and she was one of them,” Hales said.

To continue her aunt’s wishes, Rush hopes to grow Juneteenth to the national standard of being a three-day event in the next few years.

<p>A Juneteenth volunteer, center, talks with members of The Beat Goes On marching band.</p> — A Juneteenth volunteer, center, talks with members of The Beat Goes On marching band.

<p>Children enjoy the inflatable bounce house at the 2016 Juneteenth Celebration at Legacy Emanuel Field.</p> — Children enjoy the inflatable bounce house at the 2016 Juneteenth Celebration at Legacy Emanuel Field.

<p>A woman dressed as a clown takes a selfie with Doris Rush, niece of Clara Peoples and Oregon State Director of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation.</p> — A woman dressed as a clown takes a selfie with Doris Rush, niece of Clara Peoples and Oregon State Director of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation.

<p>A Portland police officer smiles at children marching in the Juneteenth parade on Martin Luther King Boulevard.</p> — A Portland police officer smiles at children marching in the Juneteenth parade on Martin Luther King Boulevard.

<p>Jenelle Jack, granddaughter of Clara Peoples, said her grandmother was "my superhero, my confidant, my best friend."</p> — Jenelle Jack, granddaughter of Clara Peoples, said her grandmother was "my superhero, my confidant, my best friend."

<p>Octavia Chambers, Miss Black Oregon USA, and Skylar Pierce-Smith, Miss Black Oregon USA Talented Teen, chat with Portland Mayor Charlie Hales.</p> — Octavia Chambers, Miss Black Oregon USA, and Skylar Pierce-Smith, Miss Black Oregon USA Talented Teen, chat with Portland Mayor Charlie Hales.

<p>A photo of Clara Peoples, the nationally-recognized Mother of Juneteenth, hangs onstage at Portland's Juneteenth celebration.</p> — A photo of Clara Peoples, the nationally-recognized Mother of Juneteenth, hangs onstage at Portland's Juneteenth celebration.