AMHERST — The auditorium at St. Brigid’s church swelled with sound Thursday evening as more than 100 people swayed, clapped and sang along to the Black national anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Spirits were as high as the temperature outside — which had reached 90 degrees — as people celebrated Juneteenth with music, food and community.

The 16th Juneteenth Jubilee was organized by the Black Business Association of Amherst (BBAAA) in collaboration with Sankofa Gumbo, a nonprofit dedicated to the education and sharing of African American heritage and culture. It commemorated June 19, the day when slavery ended in the United States, featuring performances, vendors, speakers, educational tabling and catering from local Black-owned businesses. For a few hours, the event transformed the St. Brigid’s auditorium into a multigenerational, multicultural hub of community.

Several musical acts performed, including Pumaja Drum and Dance Collective, Taproots, Tem Blessed & Cita, Light of Blest Energy and Rebelle. The Amherst Area Gospel Choir also took the stage for some gospel numbers, including “Freedom is Coming,” “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and “We Shall Overcome.”

According to Amilcar Shabazz, co-founder of Sankofa Gumbo, it was important to have music at the event because it would resonate with people. The music, performed by many talented Valley-based performers, helped people “feel what it means to be free, to feel on a vibrational and energetic level through the music, the traditions ... of freedom,” Shabazz said.

Shabazz added that the community aspect was important in a time of polarization, and that in-person gatherings where people could come together around shared experiences like food, music and dance, are crucial for unity.

“We’ve got people here representing ethnic backgrounds from all over the world, and they’re all united around that common experience of people of African descent who became free in this country in 1865 ... they all are relating to it positively, understanding it as part of our shared human story,” he said.

Monica Cage, owner of Crowned by Cage, a hair braiding business, added that Juneteenth was about recognizing progress and community as well as understanding that there is still a lot of work to be done.

“When I think of Juneteenth, I think of freedom for all. And I think that it’s very mindful that when you know we are having these celebrations, we are thinking about, you know, our brothers and sisters that should be here celebrating freedom with us,” Cage said.

Around the room, several community organizers shared their stories, including the League of Women Voters and Lucinda’s House, an organization dedicated to addressing racial disparities in maternal mortality and maternal morbidity. Local authors also connected with community members, signing and selling books, and businesses, including Grounded in Wellness 365, which sells wellness products, and BakuCare, an adult day care facility, also set up tables at the event.

One of the most popular parts of the event, however, was the food, catered by Henryne Catering and African Bowl restaurant: servers doled out barbeque chicken, collard greens, jollof rice, black-eyed peas and more, with the line growing as people got a whiff of the cuisine.

“Food brings people together, is part of Black culture,” said BBAAA President Pat Ononibaku, nothing that events like these would be boring without food.

The event, Ononibaku said, also incorporated other forms of art in addition to music, as the arts play a large role in Black culture and history.

“It’s all about, you know, joyful gathering, community gathering,” said Ononibaku.

The event also highlighted Black-owned businesses, something that means a lot to Ononibaku, owner of BakuCare, as it was a chance to economically empower business owners. She spoke about the discrimination and alienation Black business owners often face, even among other local business owners. Ononibaku started BBAAA as a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping its members grow their business through education, networking, marketing, mentorship and access to business resources.

“We meet people where they are, because not everybody [is] on the same level. And so that’s what we do. We have people who can’t get loan[s] ... We help them out. They pay back, for example,” said Ononibaku.

Cage, who is on the board of directors for BBAAA and emcee for the event, said the organization encouraged her to step out of her comfort zone as a business owner and community leader.

“I really hope that people leave this event feeling inspired, feeling empowered and proud of their local community, because I often run into people and they’re like, I didn’t know there were that many Black businesses in Amherst,” she said. “And I’m like, that’s why we need the exposure. We need the support from our community.”