By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — William Copeland was born just days before the first ever Juneteenth celebration was held in the city of Rockford.
Now, at age 33, he was center stage Monday at what is now the longest-running observance of Juneteenth in the state of Illinois. Copeland, who blends hip hop and neo soul music with island vibes, was among multiple musicians, dancers, poets, spoken-word artists and other performers who bring the festivities to life at Sinnissippi Park.
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He gave credit to Tommy Meeks, the man who pioneered Juneteenth festivities here, for allowing part of the event to shine a light on local talent. He said more people need to do the same.
“If anyone is looking to just bring together a Rockford scene that we can be proud of in terms of music, arts, spoken word,” said Copeland, who goes by Deuce Jibri on stage. “I’m more than happy to shoulder any type of burden you need.”
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Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery after the Civil War, became a federal holiday in 2021. But in Rockford, Meeks led the charge on bringing attention to the date for more than three decades.
The holiday marks the date on June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were told by the Union army that they were free. That notice came about two months after the Confederate general Robert E. Lee had surrendered at Appomattox, Virginia.
“I just want to be part of what Juneteenth has come to mean to the nation,” Meeks said of his long-running commitment to commemorating the day. “We’ve got more people understanding what my ancestors went through.
“For people to understand what they went through, I think it will help us move forward as a people and as a country.”
The celebration, which spanned two days this year starting on Sunday, celebrates education with Sunday’s All Black Graduation and features a vast array of entertainment.
“I try to get local talent to come forward and do what they’re capable of doing,” Meeks said.
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His cousin, Jim Wright, was celebrated singer and songwriter Mariah Carey’s longtime music director. Meeks said he got his start at local shows. Wright died in 2018 at age 52 at his home in Rockford.
“I can’t say it all started with Juneteenth, but it started with people giving him a chance to perform,” Meeks said. “That’s what I want to try to find: local talent that have a passion for entertaining, and we give them an outlet for that.”
Copeland performed two songs Sunday, each with a message for listeners. The first was called “Flags.”
“When anyone listens to that they need to instantly think of self accountability,” he said. “What do you want and what are you willing to give up? And what are you willing to hold yourself accountable for?”
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The second, called “Contrast,” is about not being afraid of who you love.
“Love never had a shade in the first place,” Copeland said. “If who you love is an alien you need to go ahead and make that intergalactic.”
Aside from the entertainment, Meeks hopes people take away important history lessons from Juneteenth events, including the role African Americans played in fighting for their own freedom.
Approximately 180,000 to 200,000 African Americans, most who were former slaves, fought in the Civil War. They made up about 10% of the Union army, according to History.com.
“Those 200,000 men helped, I think, save the country because they helped win the war and kept the Union together,” Meeks said. “African Americans weren’t given freedom: We worked hard and died and fought to win our freedom.”
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This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.