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Posted: 10:54 PM Jun 19, 2010
Celebrating "Juneteenth", the End of Slavery
Juneteenth is a celebration of the abolition of slavery in the United States.
Reporter: Hanna Francis Email Address: hanna.francis@wsaz.com |
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3 Comments 
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- For folks across the country, June 19th, or "Juneteenth" is a day of celebration.
"Juneteenth" is a celebration of the abolition of slavery in the United States.
The story of slavery in America is one poet Norman Jordan knows well.
"My mother's grandmother says she was an 11-year-old slave when the soldiers came to the plantation. She was down in a wash tub washing clothes, the soldier came up and told her get out of that water, you don't have to do that anymore," Jordan said. "The slave master's wife was up on the porch, and he said from now on you got to wash your own clothes."
That story has been passed down from generation to generation, but a local painter, Elliot Scott, is proof that at only 20-years-old, you can know where you came from.
"People don't forget," Scott said. "A lot of people feel like certain things are forgotten, but I don't think days like this are."
Scott uses his paintings of prominent African Americans like Miles Davis and Barack Obama to tell stories, the same way Jordan uses his poems. Their art teaches younger generations stories of the past.
Huntington's Juneteenth celebration was full of food, art, games and a lot of community involvement.
Latest Comments
I'm 60 and never heard or it either, but I'm glad to know we have a day like this, I'll plan to join in next year. Where is it celebrated?
I'm a 32-year-old Caucasian woman and I've heard of Juneteenth but I honestly had no idea what it was about. Had I known, I would have taken the time to talk to my family about it and celebrate it. I'm with SOMETHING NEW here, a little ashamed that I've never learned what the day's about. You can bet we'll be celebrating and talking to our kids about it next year! Why don't we have parades and parties for this?
YOU LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY, I AM A LITTLE ASHAMED I NEVER NEW OF THIS DAY, BUT AM GREATFUL TO HAVE LEARNED.
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