Juneteenth celebrations begin in Central Kentucky

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (LEX 18) — Juneteenth has been celebrated to this point with a wide range of occasions throughout Central Kentucky on Saturday. Individuals celebrated with meals, music, and actions.

The vacation celebrates when the ultimate enslaved folks had been free of accomplice states. On the time, folks had been nonetheless enslaved in Kentucky, whose slaves weren’t freed till December, in keeping with Maureen Lavelle, the Lead Park Ranger at Camp Nelson Nationwide Monument.

She was at a Juneteenth occasion in Nicholasville, sharing Camp Nelson’s connections to slavery – and the African People who had been enlisted on the camp, with folks.

An occasion was held at a cemetery the place Black individuals who had been enlisted on the heart are buried. Audio system instructed the tales of people that had been enlisted on the camp.

Additionally in Lexington, meals was the main focus at SoulTeenth Fest, now in its second yr.

“We’re so completely satisfied to place this on in celebration of all issues black culinary, so restauranteurs, cooks, and farmers. The neighborhood assist has actually actually been nice,” mentioned Marcellus Barksdale, co-founder of Soul Feast.

Having a lot consideration on Juneteenth is one thing Jim Thurman would have been unimaginable when he was rising up. “The center of America wasn’t there,” he mentioned.

“Juneteenth is a superb time for America to look again, come collectively, and transfer ahead,” Thurman added.