Monday is Juneteenth, the federal holiday that marks the abolition of slavery on June 19, 1865, and two events in Maine seek to redefine Black Mainers' relationship with water.
Lamoine
Juneteenth Downeast is holding a Weekend on the Water at Lamoine State Park for Black and Indigenous people of color to try sailing, fishing and hiking on the coast of Maine.
Co-chair of the Juneteenth Downeast Advisory Board Janine Georgette says Black people have historically not had access to water sports and recreation.
"We wanted to make sure that we had access to it, but a lot of us don't. For a variety of reasons, systemic racism, for one. The fact that Black people don't have access to swimming pools in this country means a lot of us don't swim. It's hard to feel comfortable on the water if you don't feel safe there," Georgette said.
Georgette says while organizers can't teach participants to swim in one day, they have set up a program at the Ellsworth Y to offer swimming lessons to people of color.
This is the first Weekend on the Water event and more than 100 people are participating. It's free and sponsored by Healthy Acadia, with additional support from the Good Shepard Food Bank, Outdoor Equity Fund, Maine Initiatives, and Nature Based Education Consortium.
South Portland
The South Portland Human Rights Commission is hosting a family event on Monday focused on celebrating racial equity in the community. Pedro Vazquez, chair of the Commission, says there will also be a discussion about Black people reclaiming their connection to the water, based on the song "Wade in the Water" and its history.
"It's a theme and a narrative that's always been very important in the community. You hear the stereotypical tropes about Black folks and water. Changing that narrative is important and it's important to hear it from the voices who are most affected," he says.
Vazquez says any attempts by businesses to commercialize the holiday will not be allowed to disrupt the theme of the city's celebration.
"There's quite a bit of concern in the community about the co-opting of Juneteenth and how it's being commercialized. We see it happening already and we are pushing back on that idea and just making it about community and celebration and reflection on what it means to be Black in America," he says.
South Portland's Juneteenth celebration will also feature music, food and speakers. It will begin at 1 p.m. at the Redbank Community Center.
