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 JUNETEENTH OBSERVATION CELEBRATES FREEDOM
By Peter Silas Pasqua, Contributing Writer
www.gonzalesweekly.com
 DONALDSONVILLE - In a tranquil observance at the site of Civil War-era Fort Butler, 85-year-old WWII Army veteran of D-Day Lawrence Keller placed a wreath at the granite memorial commemorating the Union Army's African American soldiers who fought for the United States during the Civil War Saturday afternoon.
The event took place in conjunction with the city's annual Juneteenth Freedom Festival, organized by the River Road African-American Museum.
Keller wore the blue uniform of the celebrated 9th Calvary 25th Infantry Regiment, commonly referred to as the Buffalo Soldiers, one of America's first peacetime all-black unit.
The 9th Calvary was formed in New Orleans in 1866.
"It is people like myself that want to keep the legend of history living," Keller said. "We want to encourage young men to be a part of this organization. We are very interested in setting up a chapter here."
Keller said President Harry Truman inactivated the 25th Regiment including all-black units after the World War II.
Sgt. Ernest Taylor of the 932nd Engineering Battalion of the Louisiana, National Guard, Donaldsonville Mayor Leroy Sullivan, State Rep. Roy Quezaire and River Road African American Museum board member Tamiko Francis Garrison also participated in the wreath ceremony.
Shortly before, Keller was joined by fellow Buffalo Soldier John Anderson during the opening ceremony of the event at Louisiana Square.
"The 9th Calvary started in Louisiana and has one of the best military records in the history of this country," Anderson said. "We want to honor those young men that blazed trails and fought for this country from Louisiana. The reason the Spanish - American War ended on the day that it did was that the 9th Calvary broke the line. If anyone knows anything about battle, when you break that line the fight is over with."
Kathe Hambrick Jackson, curator of the museum, said she hopes to develop an educational program in schools about the buffalo soldier.
"As we celebrate our freedom here in Louisiana on this Juneteenth, we have to remember that the troops are in Iraq fighting for our freedom," Jackson said.
Juneteenth commemorates the June 19, 1865, date when news of President Abraham Lincoln's 'Emancipation Proclamation' that freed enslaved blacks reached Galveston, Texas.
The museum sponsors the annual event, which began in 1993 by the late Janet Francis and Delores Scioneaux.
"From 1865 through 2007 we are still celebrating our freedom," Quezaire said. "Please keep in mind the purpose of this celebration."
The opening act of the festival was the River Road African American Museum's Drum and Dance Ensemble led by Luther Gray of Bamboula 2000 and Mama Jamilah.
The festival kicked off Friday night at the Lemann Center with the Donaldsonville Idol Competition.
"We don't have a stump like the Apollo, so we will use a hat to rub on," said host Jamila Peirre.
The NBBC Young Ambassadors for Christ Mime Group won the gospel competition, while Deloyd Dabney and Nathaniel Jacobs of New Orleans won rap and Desiree Nailer won R&B part.
In between performances Saturday, Barbara Trevigne - dressed as Marie Laveau - encouraged patrons to record their family's ancestor's names with the museum. Trevigne does a live reenactment of the voodoo queen.
"I become Marie Laveau," Trevigne said. "I talk about her and the time she lived, all the myths that were written about me all those centuries ago."
Local primitive artist Alvin Batiste spent the day in the children's village encouraging youth to paint.
"Whatever they feel like drawing," Batiste said. "They will come and draw rainbows, trees, people. They are just so creative."
Batiste said he has attended the festival since its inception and also won the annual art contest this year. Joan Thibodeaux placed second and Allison Ezidore took third.
"It was a really good turnout," said organizer Orhan McMillian. "My goal is to have guest artists come out and paint and draw."
"Freedom in the African-American Experience" was the theme of this year's event.
At the children's village, Michael Smith needed four helpers to unload his Guinness World Record-holding alligator made of toothpicks. The creation weighs 320 pounds and measures 15 feet, 4 inches.
Across the square, Parish Councilman Oliver Joseph was buried in a large barbeque pit turning ribs and chicken.
"This is something great for the community," Joseph said. "This is the biggest crowd we have ever had and I love cooking barbeque."
Near the Thibaut Memorial Fountain, Carlos Harris had plenty of help frying more than 350 pounds of catfish and 300 pounds of French fries.
"Every year, it gets bigger and bigger and we cook more and more," Harris said.
Jackson said she was happy with the turnout for this year's event.
"There is a lot of talk about freedom in America today and for those of us who are African Americans, we should really know that the opportunities we have to get an education, worship where we want and gather is what freedom is all about.
"This is not just a festival for African Americans. This is a day for all Americans to celebrate freedom for everybody and teach our children about this segment in history. We live in plantation country, so there should not be anyone who does not know what emancipation means in American history Freedom is worth celebrating anytime."
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Bicentennial Jazz Plaza Dedication
Saturday, May 26, 2007
at 4:00pm
Corner Plaza at Railroad Avenue and Charles Street
Donaldsonville, Louisiana
Featuring International Jazz Greats
Donaldsonville, La - Donaldsonville was a hotbed of musical activity in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Many of the early musicians developed an interest and talent while living on or near the plantations in the rural communities of Ascension Parish. Donaldsonville and Ascension Parish are fortunate to have several notable musicians as native sons. This bicentennial monument will serve as a site of enduring significance that documents, preserves and celebrates the rural musicians, famous and unsung, from this region. It also stands as a monument in recognition of the people and neighborhoods that nourished these musicians and laid the foundation for jazz that carved a uniquely prominent position on the world stage.
Join us for the unveiling of Donaldsonville's first Louisiana historic marker and newly landscaped plaza recognizing legendary jazz musicians from the area such as: Claiborne Williams, Joseph "King" Oliver, Willie Foster, Richard Myknee Jones, George "Pops" Foster, Davidson C. Nelson, and Emanuel Sayles.
This historic event will include a brief presentation by Dr. Joyce Jackson of LSU on the history of jazz and the river parishes. Live music for the dedication will feature Don Vappe,Thaddeus Richard, Plas Johnson (best known for the solo saxophone in the Pink PantherTheme), and Renald Richard (best known as Ray Charles' first band leader). A special tribute to Claiborne Williams will be played by New Orleans' only female brass band, The Pinettes. The public is invited.
Sponsored by the City of Donaldsonville,The Bicentennial Commemorative Jazz Committee, Donaldsonville Tourist Commission.
For More Information
Contact: Kathe Hambrick,
225-474-5553
aamuseum@bellsouth.net
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L'Applause: Louisiana Black Film Festival
January 2007
The River Road African American Museum in conjunction with the Louisiana Old State Capitol Museum are pleased to announce a unique exhibition and film series in celebration of Black History Month 2007. The exhibition features 25 vintage movie posters and four Sunday movie matinees from February 12, 2007 to March 12, 2007. This program offers insight into the portrayal and progress of blacks in the American film and theatre industry. It provides a rare glimpse and historical examination of black screen images dating back to the 1930's. The posters and movies chronicle the long journey of this country's first African American stars, including Dorothy Dandridge, Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, Pearl Bailey, Spencer Williams, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne and Paul Robeson. Each forged a role for black entertainers that countered or reinforced stereotypes while creating a thriving, independent culture in American cinema and theatre.
- Vintage Movie Poster Exhibit at the Old State Capitol Museum
February 12, 2007 - March 12, 2007; 10am - 4pm Tues. - Sat.; Noon - 4pm Sunday
- Opening Gala Reception and Screening at the Old State Capitol Museum
Friday, February 16, 2007 6:00pm; 7:30pm Screening of Black Orpheus (1959)
Reception sponsored by the Baton Rouge Visitors and Convention Bureau.
- Vintage Film Sunday Matinees at the Old State Capitol Museum
February 18, 2007; 2:00pm; Carmen Jones (1954)
February 25, 2007; 2:00pm; Green Pastures (1936)
March 4, 2007; 2:00pm; Lilies in the Field (1962)
March, March 11, 2007; 200pm; New Orleans (1947)
For more information about the opening gala reception honoring Lynn Whitfield, Valerian Smith, Douglas Turner Ward, Wendell Pierce, Marquetta Cheeks, Rachael Emanuel and others who have made contributions to the film and theatre industry, please call Kathe Hambrick at 225-474-5553, Terrie Julien at 985-369-7422, Regina Perry at 255-383-1825.
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Donaldsonville marks Juneteenth
Town elected first black mayor in U.S. in 1868
By DAMIANE RICKS
Advocate staff writer
Published: Jun 11, 2006
DONALDSONVILLE - In the city where the first African-American mayor in the nation was elected to office, hundreds came together Saturday to celebrate the end of slavery and those who fought for freedom.
Louisiana Square, a park in Donaldsonville's Historic District, was the site of the River Road African American Museum's annual Juneteenth Freedom Festival. The Juneteenth celebration dates back to 1865 in Galveston, Texas, when word arrived of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation more than a year earlier, a presidential action ending slavery.
Three years later, the city of Donaldsonville elected former slave Pierre "Caliste" Landry as mayor, said River Road Museum director Kathe Hambrick. Landry later won election to both the Louisiana House of Representatives and the state Senate.
Escorted by members of the SLR and ASAP motorcycle riding clubs, Donaldsonville Mayor Leroy Sullivan Sr. and other elected officials kicked off the festival by laying a wreath at the Fort Butler memorial, commemorating the slaves who died under oppression and the black soldiers who fought for freedom in the Civil War.
"It's important that the young people know a lot of people struggled that we would have the freedom we have today," Sullivan said. "The more we celebrate Juneteenth and our heritage, they'll understand our fight to enjoy freedom."
Sullivan is the fourth African-American mayor in Donaldsonville's history, which dates back two centuries to its founding in 1806.
State Rep. Roy Quezaire Jr., D-Donaldsonville, described the weekend's Juneteenth Festival observances as both cultural and educational experiences.
Festival-goers milled about from tent to tent at Louisiana Square, browsing through the goods of various vendors or taking advantage of information and free medical screenings by healthcare providers.
The River Road African American Museum tent showcased the many contributions African-American men and women have made through inventions, from everyday items such as John Stanard's refrigerator and John Arthur Johnson's wrench to the complex helicopter by Paul E. Williams and Leonard Julien Sr.'s sugarcane-planting machine.
In keeping with this year's festival theme, "Music - The Ultimate Expression of Freedom," the crowds enjoyed an array of live performances ranging from blues and reggae to zydeco and hip hop.
"Music has played an integral part in our history, starting with the freedom songs sung by slaves while toiling in the field," Quezaire said. "Those songs kept us focused on our ongoing quest for freedom."
Zenobia Batiste of Prairieville led festival-goers in singing one of those freedom songs, "Lift Every Voice and Sing." The song has become known as the black national anthem, she said.
Despite its obvious importance to the African American community, the Juneteenth celebration is for all people, museum director Hambrick said.
"Is freedom just for black people?" she asked. "Freedom is for everyone."
Story originally published in The Advocate.
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The Advocate - Baton Rouge, La.
(Copyright 2006 by Capital City Press)
Julie Belafonte, wife of actor and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte, visits the River Road African American Museum in August while touring New Orleans and scouting for an international film on sugarcane in the region. Belafonte was a dancer with the Katherine Dunham Dance troupe in the 1950s. While in Donaldsonville, Mayor Leroy Sullivan and museum director Kathe Hambrick presented Belafonte with a key to the city.
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By: Peter Silas Pasqua
The Donaldsonville Chief
Photos by Peter Silas Pasqua
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| Former Ascension Parish Superintendent of Schools Ralph Ricardo Sr., right, was the keynote speaker at the River Road African American Museum's 12th anniversary banquet. He attended the banquet with his sister Eleanor Young and wife Doris Ricardo, center. |
River Road African American Museum celebrated its 12th anniversary Saturday night with a banquet honoring black educators from the river parishes.
The event drew hundreds of guests to Rose's in St. James parish, where a fried catfish dinner and the jazz music of Rhodes Spedale kept spirits high.
There was also a silent auction and a panel discussion revolving around education. A powerful exhibit featuring articles on the historically black schools in the area greeted quests as they entered along with a PowerPoint presentation of pictures provided by patrons.
On display was a small bench desk from Central Agricultural School in Convent that used to seat three children, according to former principal Clifford Roberts. The school has since been moved to Donaldsonville and will house the River Road African American Museum in the future.
It housed 68 students when Roberts, 86, became principal in 1951. He attended the banquet with his wife, Gloria W. Roberts, 80, who was a teacher at Cypress Grove Elementary School, also in St. James Parish. They met when Clifford taught at Xavier University which Gloria attended.
"I always wanted to help people," Roberts said of why he became a teacher. "You didn't teach for much money then. There wasn't a world of work for black people. A black person with an education only had a few career choices." Gloria said the banquet was overdue recognition and is the beginning of bringing back the history of black schools.
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| Museum director and curator Kathe Hambrick and board member Claudia Celestine put together the exhibit on display at the banquet. |
"Teachers have always been left out and we worked hard to educate our black kids because we know how important education is," Gloria said. "After they integrated the schools they wiped out a lot of the history of black schools. All the trophies and awards."
Museum director and curator Kathe Hambrick said the exhibit is only a portion of a permanent exhibit that will be housed in the building. "Some of this is at the museum now but a lot of it comes from new research," Hambrick said. "I am just going to have to store it until the building is ready."
Hambrick said she has a long list of ideas she keeps of themes for the museum's banquet and was inspired after learning how many people from Donaldsonville went to college while researching for last year's banquet on medicine pioneers.
From a 1906 map of the city of Donaldsonville she discovered a preparatory department of Leland University once stood on Claiborne Street and a negro public school once stood near where city hall is today. "I was wondering what did those schools look like and who taught there," Hambrick said. "How could have education been so important to young people and parents 100 years ago and now we have such a difficult problem keeping children in school."
The highlight of this year's banquet was a panel discussion that included St. Gabriel Mayor George Grace, Willis Octave, Felika Taylor, Iberville Parish Constable Reginald Brown, Charlie Stephens Eartha Rayborn and Kelly Davis which was facilitated by Lisa Scott.
Questions on the advantages and disadvantages of integration, in school suspension compared to discipline in the past, the Leap test and the 'No Child Left Behind' program were posed to the panel.
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| Clifford Roberts, former principal of Central Agricultural School in Convent attended the banquet with his wife Gloria. |
"I am a big fan of CSPAN and I thought there were some issues that might be interesting to discuss here in a rural area," Hambrick said. "It wasn't just entertaining. It was informative."
Ralph Ricardo Sr., former Ascension Parish Superintendent of Schools who became the first African American superintendent in the State of Louisiana in 1981 was the keynote speaker.
"I understood the politics, the patronage and those things that got in the way of teachers delivering services to young people," Ricardo said, "but together we turned this system into a premiere education system in the state of which I am proud."
A 1951 graduate of Lowery High School, Ricardo remembers students from Sunshine to Destrehan boarding with individuals to attend the high school.
"Lowery was one of the few black high schools along the river that was a complete high school," Ricardo said. "This is the type of community building we had here. We brought in some of the outstanding speakers of the time to serve as an inspiration to young people."
Lowery Intermediate principal Sheryl Comeaux-Dillion, an educator of 22 years, said she felt pride in the work previous administrators and teachers did.
"It wasn't it vain," Dillion said. "They are the ones that shaped this education system."
Donaldsonville Primary School principal Marydine Emery compared the gathering of teachers to a reunion.
"Everything that we faced is like a fellowship," said the educator of 30 years. Donaldsonville High School teacher Brian Richardson said he came to the banquet to show appreciation to past educators. He currently teaches an African American history class.
"These are the people that inspired me," Richardson said. "They laid the foundation. There was no integration and blacks didn't get the same treatment as whites. They fought through all that and paved the way for me." Richardson described teaching as "a cycle of love."
"If it wasn't for these educators here today the cycle would have never got started," Richardson said. "I have a responsibility to keep the cycle going." Retired teacher Claudia Celestine envisioned a tribute to teachers in the 1960's.
"This is a dream come true," Celestine said. "The education system was a thing that gave black people inspiration because the social systems had disappointed them. Without education we would have been loss."
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Louisiana Legacy
Excerpted from Southern Traveler
www.ouraaa.com
The hundreds of enslaved people brought to plantations along the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge are recognized for their contributions to Louisiana’s culture and economy in the River Road African American Museum. Originating at Tezcuco Plantation in 1994, the museum relocated to Donaldsonville (406 Charles St.) after fire destroyed the main house in 2002. Kathe Hambrick, founder and director, cites the historic town’s large population of free blacks prior to the Civil War as a natural complement to the “freedom stories” she relishes telling.
Hambrick seized the chance to incorporate landmarks at the Donaldsonville site, expanding the museum’s mission to include buildings as well as artifacts and art. Today, various exhibits–including Louisiana cuisine, jazz, the Underground Railroad, Reconstruction and rural medical practitioners–occupy a Creole-style cottage. Soon the nearby Central Agricultural School, a Rosenwald-funded school built in 1931, will open to focus attention on black education in plantation country. True Friends Hall, a benevolent society building dating from the 1880s, and the Africa Plantation House wait in the wings for restoration.
People, however, form the heart and soul of this growing museum. Slave inventories, data on hundreds of monde de couleur libre (free people of color); the 20th-century inventor of the sugarcane-planting machine, Leonard Julien; famous folk artists; and original documents of Madame C. J. Walker (America’s first female self-made millionaire) are all on display. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday–Saturday and 1–5 p.m. Sunday. Museum tours are $4.
For its accomplishments, the River Road African American Museum garnered one of 10 national Living History and Museum Preservation Awards given by American Legacy magazine in 2005. The museum also is the first Louisiana member of the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom, a collection of sites across the nation associated with the Underground Railroad.
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True Friends of the Flood Benevolent Society
Benevolent Societies played a vital role in the lives of African Americans during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Plagued by high rates of illness, mortality and unemployment, members of such groups were far better able to weather crises than non-members. By participation in such societies, African Americans were able to acquire skills in running organizations – writing constitutions, keeping minutes, and learning bookkeeping. Perhaps more importantly, benevolent societies were aimed at strengthening and unifying the black community.
Few of these associations or societies remain today. Most of the members are deceased or memberships have dwindled to a few faithful older members. In the spirit of the hundreds of benevolent associations which existed throughout the South, a group of friends and I have organized the True Friends of the Flood Benevolent Society, also known as TFFBS or True Friends of the Flood. This non-profit corporation is formed for the purpose of assisting families in general and families affected by the Katrina hurricane devastation with housing, education, childcare, and general welfare. We hope that the formation of the True Friends of the Flood Benevolent Society of Louisiana will be a catalyst for others who want to help friends and families displaced by Katrina.
So far, True Friends of the Flood has:
- Distributed to local churches a load of new clothes and supplies sent from Manhattan, NY by eighteen wheeler
- Assisted a young mother with two sons in reuniting with her family in Brooklyn, NY via air from a shelter at Lamar Dixon
- Assisted a young couple with two sons with a donation of gas money. After driving from place to place with no money and living in a shed here in Donaldsonville, they sought to relocate as soon as possible to find opportunities.
- Registered families of three or more for a relocation program to Cincinnati, Ohio which includes job training, free rent, food, clothing and checking account.
At this time we are only able to accept donations by mail and by direct deposit so please help and become a member by sending your donations to:
- True Friends of the Flood Benevolent Society
406 Charles Street
Donaldsonville, La. 70346
Tax ID# 59-3817197
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Letter From The Director Regarding Hurricane Katrina
As most of you know, we in Louisiana are working with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. South Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama have been devastated. First we want to thank you for your phone calls and emails of love and support and we join you in prayers for all of those who have suffered from this disaster.
Please know that the museum, collections, artifacts and buildings that make up the River Road African American Museum have been spared. We are safe and well. At this time we are focusing our energy and time to help the many victims and evacuees that have sought shelter here in Donaldsonville and in Ascension Parish.
Many of you have expressed interest in helping by volunteering and donating. We’ve included a list of contact information of various groups and organizations that need help here in Donaldsonville and Ascension Parish so that we may help our neighbors who have sought refuge here. Please continue sending us your prayers as together we are rebuilding, reuniting, and recovering.
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River Road African American Museum to receive American Legacy Magazine Museum Preservation Award
New York, NY - American Legacy Magazine, the magazine of African -American history and culture is proud to announce the winners of the 2005 Living History and Museum Preservation Awards. The magazine the awards at its 10th Anniversary Gala on Wednesday, September 14th in New York City.
- Ten (10) museums from across the country will be among the winners:
- River Road African American Museum - Donaldsonville, LA.
- Dusable Museum of African-American History - Chicago, Ill.
- Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History, Detroit, MI.
- Great Blacks in Wax Museum - Baltimore, MD
- Apex Museum - Atlanta, GA
- Buffalo Soldier Museum - Houston, TX
- Black History Museum - Richmond, Va.
- Kansas African-American Museum - Wichita, KS
- African-American Museum of Nassau County - East Meadow, NY
- African American Cultural Complex - Raleigh, NC
Other award winners will be:
- Gil Noble of "Like It Is", a program addressing African -American issues for more than 30 years
- Myrlie Evers-Williams, Civil Rights activists and former Chair of the NAACP
- Reverend Dr. Joseph Lowery, who along with Dr. Martin Luther King was one of the founding fathers of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
- Melvin Van Peebles, a pioneer in African-American cinema
"As we celebrate our 10th anniversary this year, we wanted to make a special effort to acknowledge those institutions that are doing extraordinary work to preserve our history and heritage," said Rodney J. Reynolds, Founder and Publisher of American Legacy Magazine.
The award celebrates excellence in preserving the historical and cultural perspectives of the African-American experience. To be eligible, museums had to provide information on previous projects and an outline of their plans for future programming which promote the African-American experience in each of their local areas.
Each museum will receive a monetary grant and will be highlighted in an upcoming issue of American Legacy Magazine. The magazine is distributed nationwide to over 2.25 million readers through black churches, educational and cultural institutions. It is also available on newsstands and through paid subscriptions. The magazine is operated as a joint venture with the American Heritage division of Forbes Magazine.
The New York event will be hosted by actor and comedian, Sinbad: entertainment will by Grammy-award-winning R&B vocalist Regina Belle.
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Donaldsonville Juneteenth celebrates family reunions
By Chelsea Renee Brown
Gonzales Weekly
www.gonzalesweekly.com
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Local artist Alvin Batiste teaches painting techniques to (left to right) Shenneta R., Josh C., Jermaine C., and Janira C. under the children’s tent at the Juneteenth Festival Saturday. Photo by Chelsea Renee Brown |
“Freedom is worth celebrating all the time,” said Kathe Hambrick, founder and director of the River Road African American Museum in Donaldsonville. Hambrick helped kick off the town’s 11th Annual Juneteenth Festival last weekend in celebration of African American Independence on June 19, 1865.
The Louisiana Juneteenth Holiday Campaign, founded by Sadie Roberts-Joseph, has made the festival a town tradition for over 11 years, after designating the celebration an official state holiday.
“I try to attend as many festivals as possible throughout Louisiana each year,” said Roberts-Joseph. “My campaign is currently working hard to make Juneteenth a national holiday also.”
This year’s theme, Family Reunions, was represented in the historical exhibits, arts and crafts, African dancing, and cultural music throughout the grounds, where friends and family across Ascension gathered to enjoy live entertainment, good food, and the festival’s famous lemonade.
Donaldsonville’s mayor, Leroy Sullivan, joined Saturday’s festivities, along with several city councilmen, including the town’s first African American Councilwoman, Monica FeFe.
“Its wonderful to see everyone come out for the celebration,” said Sullivan. “I look most forward to grabbing a bite to eat.”
State Representative Roy Quezaire made an appearance Saturday. He said he cut the ribbon for the official opening of the African American museum, and has been participating in the Juenteenth celebration from the day of the very first festival.
“This holiday is part of everybody’s history,” said Quezaire. “It is an identity piece of our culture that blends into the multi-cultural cloth of America.”
Friday night was the official start of the party with a “Stomp” performance by the Delta Sigma Thetas, followed by the first annual talent show, featuring over 20 contestants, at the Lemann Memorial Center. Competing against the various dancers, singers, and musicians, Sara Dugas won the first place prize for her dance routine to the lyrics of Christina Aguilera’s “Fighter.”
“I am very happy with the success of our talent show,” said Hambrick. “The place was packed with people from age three to senior citizens. We are definitely going to continue to include the show as part of the festival.”
The talent show was not the only competition that gave locals a chance to shine. The festival also hosted an art contest. Participants were allowed to use any artistic method to illustrate a painting, drawing, sculpture, or photograph that incorporated the celebration’s theme. The winning artwork was then displayed for the public on Saturday. First place was awarded to Eric Werner of Donaldsonville for his untitled watercolor. Elliot Williams received second place, Welmon A. Comeaux III was awarded third, and the honorable mention was granted to Trey Christopher Williams.
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Locals groove to the tunes of the Uknodat New Orleans Brass Band Saturday during the weekend-long Juneteenth Festival. |
Aside from the talent, parade, good eats, and cultural crafts Saturday, the community celebration truly focused on African American family culture. The Children’s Village tent featured both fun and educational activities such as face painting, storytelling, games, and African art and dress. The public was also able to research their family history inside the Genealogy tent, with Dr. Dolores Walters of the National Freedom Center, and browse through the history of a number of influential African Americans of the past provided under the Black Inventors tent.
The influence of African culture can still be seen today, as illustrated by Marilyn Thorton, who set up a tent to share the charitable works of Heritage International Ministries of Baton Rouge. As the Apostolic Overseer for the organization, she directs mission trips for all around the world. Her tent provided brochures, prayer requests, and contribution forms, along with a video for visitors to watch the ministries in action.
“Our ministries preach the gospel and minister to the communities,” said Thorton. “We have gone to Africa for the past three years and are planning to establish a medical clinic and bible school there.”
Hambrick was pleased with the high attendance of the festival, and said she wants to pay a special thanks to all the volunteers, sponsors, and vendors that made it happen. She said she was also thrilled with the number of visitors who took the time to walk down and observe the museum.
“I estimate that there were about 8,000 people that came out to see us,” said Hambrick. The weekend was a great success.”
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JUNETEENTH FREEDOM FESTIVAL
“FAMILY REUNIONS”
June 10-12, 2005
Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery in America. From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond. In Donaldsonville, Louisiana, we commemorate freedom by emphasizing education and achievement. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement and for planning the future. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity.
This three day celebration is an annual event, held the second weekend in June with family gatherings, picnics, food, historical exhibits, arts & crafts, African dance, live musical performances by gospel, jazz and R & B musicians. The festival location is Louisiana Square, 300 Railroad Avenue, in the beautiful historic district of downtown Donaldsonville.
Special featured tents include the Children’s Village Tent with old-time games, folk art demonstrations, face painting, traditional African dress and storytelling. An interactive Genealogy Tent will allow visitors to log on and research family genealogy with assistance from Dr. Dolores Walters, with the National Freedom Center, and volunteers from the library. . The Black Inventions Tent will feature over 100 black inventions. The festival also includes a family reunion parade, food, arts & crafts booths, and live musical performances by gospel, jazz, and R &B artists.
People of all ages, races, nationalities and religions are invited to join us as we celebrate and acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today.
Volunteers are needed, please call the number below. Meetings are on Monday at 6pm at the Ascension Parish Library in Donaldsonville. Vendor booths are $50.00 per day and vendor trailers are available for $100.00 per day. Click here for applications. Contact us for more information.
The festival is FREE TO THE PUBLIC.
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River Road African American Museum 11th Anniversary Banquet
Date: Saturday, March 12, 2005
Place: Rosie’s by the Sunshine Bridge
Entertainment: The Jazz Nurse 7:00 p.m.
Dinner, Exhibit, Silent Auction & Program: 8:00 p.m.
On Saturday, March 12, 2005 the River Road African American Museum will celebrate its 11th Year Anniversary. The exhibit and program theme for this year’s celebration is Pioneers in Medicine. This program is dedicated to the black doctors born in the rural river parish communities, some of whom received their medical degrees as early as 1894.
In the mid 1800’s medical schools were closed to African Americans in the south and to a lesser degree in the north. Because of the color line in medicine, the first few African American physicians received their medical degrees abroad. Fortunately, black medical schools evolved at Howard University, Meharry, and New Orleans University.
Join us for this historical occasion as we celebrate the accomplishments of Dr John H. Lowery, Dr. Sidney Brazier, Dr. Luther C. Speight, and Dr. Ulysses G. Daley all of Ascension Parish; Dr. John Watkins and Dr. Feastor R. Dean of Iberville Parish, Dr. Leo S. Butler of Iberville and East Baton Rouge; Dr. Ernest N. Ezidore of St. James Parish and St John Parish and Dr. Emma Wakefield of Lafourche Parish. Also included, is this area’s first Medical Hall of Fame, comprising a list of doctors from around the country who graduated from local schools in the river parishes.
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First Week of October Brings Tourist Back
The River Road African American Museum is ready for the busy tourist season. Typicall August and September are slow months because people are getting the children back to school and returning home from early summer vacations.
October brings back school field trips, and visitors from around the country.After giving thirty five LSU professors a presenation about the rural communities in South Louisiana, Kathe Hambrick accompanied the the group on a tour of the St. Martinville African American Museum.
The museum staff and volunteers, Debra Price, Janice Linton and Juanita Dandridge handled things back in Donaldsonville. Thirty five visitors from Freeport, N.Y., the African - Atlantic Genealogy Society, Inc....toured the River Road African American Museum.
On Thursday night, Kathe Hambrick visisted the group at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Baton Rouge to answer questions about genealogy in the river parishes. The group of 30 danced to the cha cha slide, sang Motown karaoke and enjoyed a "Down Home Blues Lunch" at Hambonz after the tour.
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