'A drive to keep going': Smith honored with award at Juneteenth celebration

Austin Johnson, The Daily Independent, Ashland, Ky.
·1 min read

The only Black history museum in eastern Kentucky seized a spotlight at the Juneteenth celebration in Louisville Wednesday.

IMG_5890.JPG

The award is pictured.

Darrell Smith, co-founder of The C.B. Nuckolls Community Center and Black History Museum in Ashland, was “honored” to be recognized, he said.

During the celebration, The Association for Teaching Black History presented an award to Smith for representing the museum’s determination to preserve Black history in the region.

“It’s given me a drive to keep going,” Smith said. “I am a pretty humble person about this kind of stuff, but my focus is the museum. I want to get the museum out there.

“I’m grateful. It was truly emotional, it really was,” Smith added.

The association hosted its second annual Juneteenth celebration in partnership with the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville where individuals came together to celebrate and honor contributions of Black Americans.

Since the opening of the museum in 2023, Smith said the momentum of growth continues by the day.

“It’s incredible,” he said.

“This is going to get our museum out there all around the state. It’s so important that people know about this museum and that’s why I am fighting to get us out there,” Smith added.

IMG_5889.JPG

Darrell Smith, co-founder of C.B. Nuckolls Community Center and Black History Museum, speaks during the Juneteenth event in Louisville Wednesday.

Charles Jackson Jr. has been a “huge help” in pioneering the path of success for the museum, alongside his aunt Bernice Henry, Smith said.

“All of his help with the museum — he has been wonderful,” he said.