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Ben Tucker stands with inflatable bounce house provided by his company, G.J.'s Space Jump (Bradford Perkins | The Natchez Democrat)

Plaque provided by Mildred Chatman on the significance of Juneteenth (Bradford Perkins | The Natchez Democrat)

Jarita King-Frazier sits with her traditional head wrap display (Bradford Perkins | The Natchez Democrat)

Virginia Rice-Robertson stands with the Batch-O-Pralines, LLC stand (Bradford Perkins | The Natchez Democrat)

Dashun Rounds slings a beanbag while playing corn hole (Bradford Perkins | The Natchez Democrat)

arita Frazier-King speaks to children and community members the cultural significance of traditional head wraps and rice in the hair (Bradford Perkins | The Natchez Democrat)

Janita Frazier-King gives a visual presentation the the rice braiding (Bradford Perkins | The Natchez Democrat)

Janita Frazier-King gives a visual presentation on the head wraps and its significance (Bradford Perkins | The Natchez Democrat)

NATCHEZ — Many in the Natchez community gathered at Concord Quarters on Friday, honoring the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and reflecting on the ongoing struggle for equality.

The historic site in Natchez served as a fitting backdrop for a day filled with education, remembrance, and cultural pride.

Among the participants was Ben Tucker, a longtime Natchez resident and co-owner of G.J.’s Space Jump. For Tucker, the significance of Juneteenth runs deep.

“History is very important,” Tucker said. “Juneteenth was celebrated when the last enslaved people in Texas learned they were free in 1865. That’s something to honor. Black history is American history, and we can’t allow it to be erased.”

Tucker emphasized the importance of passing down knowledge to the next generation, especially amid efforts to limit access to books and historical materials.

“Events like this remind our young people — and even some of our elders — about the struggle,” he said. “I’m 73, and I’ve seen progress, but the struggle continues.”

The Concord Quarters event was one of several Juneteenth events held across Natchez. Tucker also noted a commemorative gathering the night before at the NAPAC Museum and on the Natchez Bluff, where plans for a monument to the U.S. Colored Troops were unveiled.

Mildred Chatman, who is the chair of the Juneteenth Committee for the NAACP Natchez Chapter, reflected on the personal and generational significance of Juneteenth.

“It’s living the dream and hope of our ancestors,” she said. “They wanted to be free, and they wanted to vote. Voting is still a key part of carrying their hopes forward — especially for the children and their future.”

Chatman also stressed the importance of civic engagement in preserving the freedoms that Juneteenth represents.

“Change can come, but we’ve got to make it happen through the ballot.”

The event also featured educational activities, including a presentation by Jarita Frazier-King, owner of Natchez Heritage School of Cooking and cofounder of the Frazier Extended Education and Cultural Enrichment Center at the former Joseph Frazier primary school.

Frazier-King led a hands-on discussion with children and community members on African American agrarian traditions, cultural identity, and the historical power of fashion and hair as tools of survival.

She demonstrated how enslaved women braided rice seeds into their daughters’ hair so that if families were separated or displaced, they could still grow food to survive.

“If you were caught and had rice braided in your hair, you could plant it. That’s agriculture,” she said. “That’s culture. That’s resilience.”

Frazier-King also shared the meaning behind traditional head wraps, a form of cultural identity and silent communication passed down from African and Caribbean ancestors. The way a wrap was tied could signal a woman’s origin, relationship status, or tribe.

“When you wore a wrap, it told a story,” she said. “It was our way of holding on to who we were, even when everything else was taken away.”

Throughout the day, music, food, and family-friendly activities created a joyful atmosphere, while speakers reminded attendees that Juneteenth is not just a celebration of the past but a commitment to a better future.

“We want to celebrate our history and we want to let the world know that black history is important and what it means to this country,” Tucker said.

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