Ocean City Juneteenth organizer disappointed in support, cites online backlash (2024)

OCEAN CITY — The organizer of the second annual Ocean City Juneteenth Festival voiced his disappointment about social media comments attacking the event and wished the city did more to promote the anniversary celebration of the end of slavery in the United States.

Dan Sinclair, who grew up in Ocean City and promotes similar events in South Jersey and Cobb County, Georgia, where he also lives, said it was upsetting to see a series of comments on a post advertising his event in the Facebook group “Ocean City NJ 08226.”

There were 260 comments before the author turned off the option to comment, some saying “no thanks,” “hope the cops are ready,” and calling the event a “joke.”

“I think it’s about time we kind of stop putting Band-Aids on things and stop acting like we don’t see what’s in front of us,” said Sinclair, 52. “It was my first time experiencing that live in front of me on social media. I’m from Ocean City, so I get it. But it’s right in front of us. It was really upsetting, to be honest. It was quite disturbing, as well, you know?”

Sinclair is a 1992 Ocean City High School graduate. He grew up on 4th Street, just four blocks from the community center on Haven Avenue where the event was held. His younger brother, Kevin, is one of the greatest football players in state history.

So when he saw someone write that Ocean City isn’t the place for this event or asked why not go to Cumberland County or somewhere else where they’re wanted, he called it a slap in the face.

“It’s not a good feeling to come back home and those are the things you have to face,” Sinclair said. “This almost didn’t happen because of that, to be honest, and I’m honestly not sure if I want to have it next year because of it, to be honest. It’s disheartening.”

Juneteenth has been described as America’s second independence day, marking the end of slavery in a remote Texas outpost of the former Confederacy, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation took effect.

On June 19, 1865, Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger ordered the enforcement of Abraham Lincoln’s proclamation after arriving in Galveston. The holiday is often celebrated on the third Saturday in June.

“There’s always pushback,” said Curtis Jasper, 53, one of Saturday’s speakers who has a doctorate in counseling and psychology, counseling Black men on sustaining their mental health.

“There is no peace without freedom. When it comes to other cultures not really understanding the significance of this, what I offer is to other cultures, regardless where you’re descended, your humanity is bound up in African decent.” Jasper said. “If you look at that from a holistic standpoint, maybe you will just be open. We don’t need you to be in full agreement. We do need you to be open for generations to come. Your great-great grandchildren deserve a authentic, real, substantial perspective on what this means.”

Previous celebrations

There had been Juneteenth celebrations in Ocean City in the 1990s. They were brought back several years ago only to be interrupted again by the COVID-19 pandemic and the limits placed on public gatherings.

Last year was the return of the event, Sinclair said. He collaborated with the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce and the NAACP, which resulted in a large turnout and a wonderful celebration that brought people together.

Saturday’s festival was much smaller, with Sinclair saying he didn’t have the same support he received last year. Event costs came out of pocket, with a little help from a few sponsors as well as staging, portable toilets and a closed-off street from the city.

“To be transparent, the city has been phenomenal with helping with the staging, the tents, things they already have,” Sinclair said. “What I would like to see more support with the marketing, the advertising and visibility. ... It’s a hard thing to pull off by yourself without some type of financial backing.

“I would love to see the city get involved more that way. I think if we’re gonna do an event like this in this town ... everyone should be aware that, hey, in Ocean City we’re having a big Juneteenth festival. Bring your kids. There’s so much more to do than just the Juneteenth festival afterwards in the town. When they don’t do that, they almost make it to the point where some people don’t want you here.”

Mayor Jay Gillian nor any representatives were at Saturday's festival, Sinclair pointed out, something he was also disappointed in. He would like for that to change if there is a future event.

A request for comment from the city regarding support for the event and the social media comments was not immediately answered Saturday afternoon.

Sinclair does these festivals for a living, from the Atlanta area to Cape May and Cumberland counties. He runs a digital mentorship program called Outta Boundz for ages 13 to 25.

On Saturday, he brought up a couple of friends from Atlanta to speak: Cynthia Williams and Jasper. Williams is an author with a doctorate in grief counseling. The Muzik, a band out of Vineland, performed, as did comedian Chase Moore.

“People don’t know how to celebrate (Juneteenth) like they should, they don’t know what they’re celebrating it for, and they don’t attach it to their everyday lives,” said Williams, 52. “But once they start to understand why they need to keep it going and why they need to understand why we’re celebrating, it needs to be taught. I like to educate based on why your emotions are this way and how they go through the bloodline of their ancestors. You have this fight in you because they had that fight in them.”

Larry Wilson, 43, and Lovely Brooks, 38, grew up in Ocean City and remember how tight this community was. Wilson, who grew up on 3rd Street, said they don’t come back to this area as often anymore. He was hesitant to explain why, agreeing with a lot of what Sinclair had to say about the perception of this event.

“It was tighter back then,” Wilson said. “There are a couple (families) who still have their homes, but a lot of it has changed.”

Hassan Lee, 23, of Vineland, said last year’s celebration in Ocean City was much larger, but the message was the same Saturday.

“I think it’s a nice event today, and it’s something that should be appreciated by everyone,” Lee said.

Sunday’s schedule

On Sunday, the Juneteenth commemoration will continue at the Chris Maloney Lecture Hall in the Ocean City Free Public Library, 1735 Simpson Ave., with a program by storyteller and folklorist Karen “Queen Nur” Abdul-Malik, including a history of Elmina Castle in Ghana. The event will begin at 3 p.m.

Abdul-Malik, of Willingboro, Burlington County, is one of five South Jersey recipients of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts’ inaugural New Jersey Heritage Fellowships. Organizers describe her as a nationally renowned teaching artist who has traveled throughout the United States and beyond.

Visit oceancityartscenter.org for more information or to reserve a seat, or call 609-399-7628.