Annual Juneteenth program features commemoration, party in the park

Keylee Jones, left, and Nakieyah Hardin play a game hosted by Sam Stewart, right, of the Runge Nature Center on Saturday, June 15, 2018 during the Juneteenth Heritage Festival at Ellis-Porter Riverside Park.
Keylee Jones, left, and Nakieyah Hardin play a game hosted by Sam Stewart, right, of the Runge Nature Center on Saturday, June 15, 2018 during the Juneteenth Heritage Festival at Ellis-Porter Riverside Park.

The Lincoln University Blue Tigers women's track team led the way as grand marshals of the Juneteenth Emancipation Program Motorcade Parade on a sunny Saturday morning.

Parade participants rolled into Ellis-Porter Riverside Park to the soundtrack of Fat Joe's "All the Way Up," ready for a major community celebration to commemorate the last U.S. slaves freed in Texas on June 19, 1865, at the conclusion of the Civil War.

The annual Jefferson City celebration began 17 years ago and was hosted by the local NAACP at the Community Center. In 2006, the Citizen's of Juneteenth community-based initiative was formed to lead the event, which since moved it to the park.

Juneteenth site coordinator Earl Taylor has helped organize the event for 15 years, taking part in more than 300 hours of preparation annually to make the celebration possible. Taylor said he is most excited about the growing level of community participation in the event and anticipated at least 200 people to attend this year.

"The word is getting out and more people are finding out about Juneteenth than they did before," Taylor said. "I hope that they get a sense of the cultural heritage of the African-American community, that they realize what Juneteenth is all about - the emancipation of African American slaves."

This year's celebration kicked off with the Juneteenth Emancipation Program at the Lincoln University Soldiers Memorial Plaza, where Maggie George read aloud General Order #3, which informed the people of Texas "in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free."

A commemorative wreath was laid at the Soldiers Memorial by Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin and the Rev. W.T. Edmonson, president of Juneteenth-Jefferson City.

From the plaza, a motorcade led participants to the party at Ellis-Porter Riverside Park, where many people had already prepared the park with a bouncy house; music; nutrition, health and vocational displays; and a stage for the talent show and Little Mr. and Miss Juneteenth contests. Members of the Mid-Missouri Black Nurses Association were also on hand to offer first aid, if necessary.

Ron Williams and Richard Presberry represented Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation in an effort to show young people the career opportunities available in supporting individuals with disabilities. Representatives for the Runge Nature Center and Magical Smiles Family Dentistry were also on site with educational displays about maintaining healthy and active lifestyles.

Mr. Juneteenth winners included Jackobe Hunter and Cadyn Griffin for 7- to 9-year-olds; and Ralpheal McShan, Jr. and Jermias Thompson for the 4- to 6-year-olds. Miss Juneteenth winners included Keylee Jones, Nakieyah Hardin and Michah Franklin for the 7- to 9-year-olds; and Ja'Niece Lee, Auberey Jackson and D'Nya Duckworth for the 4- to 6-year-olds.

Members of the Infamous Royal Tigerettes performed in the talent show and recruited young women ages 8-18 for their June 23 auditions. Director Mecca Dixon said she hopes to attract 25-30 new dancers to the team.

Tigerettes Captain Yessnia Austin, 17, said it was an honor to perform one of their challenging dance numbers at the Juneteenth celebration. "I like history, and being a part of celebrating it makes me happy," Austins said.