"In order to celebrate ourselves, we need to see ourselves celebrated,'' author Randall Robinson's words indicated on the monument.

Despite blistering high temperatures, celebrate is just what hundreds of residents did, as they sank their teeth into salty catfish and listened to performers belt out gospel tunes.

The 17th Annual Pomona Valley Family Juneteenth Celebration also included 40 vendors selling food, toys and clothing, while many attendees took part in job and health fairs.

Juneteenth marks the date - June 19, 1865 - when Union troops entered Galveston, Texas, to free the state's slaves, almost two and half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. It is considered the date when the nation's last slaves were freed.

The event brought Anaheim Hills resident Darlene Oliver, 47, back to the city where she grew up. The former Ganesha High student said there were more vendors and better music this year compared to past Juneteenth celebrations.

"More people are bringing their kids, it's a real nice family thing,'' Oliver said. "I mean why be stuck inside the hot house?''

Although Juneteenth is celebrated across the country, the monument in Pomona is the first to commemorate the holiday, organizers said.

"It is said that July 4th freed the land and Juneteenth freed the people,'' said John Thompson, founder of

Juneteenth America, a nonprofit group that works with legislators on bringing prominence to the day.

Trudy Coleman and Thompson had been working toward Juneteenth recognition since 1992, when she visited local legislators including Assemblywoman Gloria Negrete McLeod, D-Chino, and Sen. Nell Soto, D-Ontario, to get their support.

Few outside the black community knew then about Juneteenth and many cast aspersions on Coleman's work, as hate mail and angry phone calls were common.

"People called up cursing, saying, ‘Why do you need another holiday?' You already have Black History Month,'' Coleman said.

At the time, few took Coleman and Thompson seriously and some doubted they could get backing from the Legislature.

In 2002, after Soto and McLeod had become major supporters, California formally declared the third Saturday of June to be Juneteenth National Freedom Day. There are currently 19 states that recognize Juneteenth.

"It's a significant movement,'' Soto said. "People have to know that this doesn't come easy. It takes a lot of perseverance.''

Wendy Leung can be reached by e-mail at wendy.leung@dailybulletin.com or by phone at (909) 483-9376.