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Juneteenth to include documentary
Published Tuesday, June 17, 2008
NATCHEZ — Though celebrated differently around the world, Natchez has its own special Juneteenth celebration slated for the weekend.
The 14th annual Juneteenth celebration this weekend is divided into two separate events.
The celebration will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Forks of the Road site, Juneteenth committee Chairman Royal Hill said.
A libation ceremony will be performed and will be accompanied by classic songs of freedom played by cellist Bridgeet Imani Olugbala.
The second facet of the celebration will be a showing of “Prince Among Slaves” at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the Visitor Reception
Center.
“Prince Among Slaves” is a documentary depicting the life of Prince Ibrahima who was captured in Timbuktu and sold into slavery.
He was owned and by Thomas Foster whose plantation was located in the Foster Mound area.
Showing the documentary fits in perfectly with the Juneteenth celebration said Ser Seshs Ab Heter- C.M. Boxley, member of the board of directors for the Ibrahima Isabella Freedom Foundation.
“Juneteenth is all about freedom,” Boxley said. “What better story about freedom than the Ibrahima family story?”
Boxley said the great-great-grandson of the prince, Artemus Gaye, will be present in Natchez for the showing.
Boxley said Gaye will be available to respond to questions and interact with participants at 6 p.m. at the visitors’ center during a special reception.
“He is encouraging the local ancestors of Ibrahima to be present at this showing,” Boxley also said.
Olugbala will perform freedom songs in between the showings, Boxley said.
Hill said the Juneteenth committee is excited about showing the documentary.
“We’re looking forward to that,” Hill said.
Hill said the importance of the event is not only to celebrate freedom but to also educate the public.
“The goal of the celebration is to bring about awareness of significant African American events in the area,” he said
He said the goal was achieved this year when Juneteenth committee purchased a historical marker for St. John Methodist Church on Martin Luther King Jr. Street.
Hill said none of this could be done without the forefathers of the committee — James West, Niecey Franklin, Thelma Williams, Ozelle Fisher, Richard “Dip
Lewis, Joseph Frazier, Kelvin and Trecina Thomas, Judge Mary Toles, Boxley and himself.
The public is invited to the two free events.
Comments
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on June 17, 2008 at 7:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
yawn
Posted by PollyG (anonymous) on June 17, 2008 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like a great celebration to me. Juneteenth is a day to celebrate the accomplishments of African-American. America would not be the great nation it is today without the contributions(if you want to call it that) made by slave labor, and others who fought for civil rights and justice for all mankind.
Posted by drawpaintsing (anonymous) on June 17, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I've never been to any Juneteenth celebrations, but I always wondered what it was like. I would love to be there Saturday, but I will be washing vehicles most of the day.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on June 17, 2008 at 7:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey draws, I can bring you my truck if you want another one to wash! LOL
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on June 17, 2008 at 7:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds interesting! I have never been to a Juneteenth celebration either. It does sound like a learning experience as well.
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