Meridian continues Juneteenth celebration this week
Jun. 17—Between the city-sponsored Juneteenth Heritage Festival and The Carter Foundation's celebration of its 10th anniversary, downtown Meridian was bustling over the weekend.
The city kicked off its annual Juneteenth Heritage Festival Friday night with the Black Business Expo at the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience, attracting a large crowd of visitors who enjoyed the live music and tasty food while they shopped with local businesses.
Juneteenth activities continued Saturday with a pickleball tournament, afternoon activities for kids at Mississippi Children's Museum-Meridian, a Saturday night concert on the city hall lawn and a Sunday afternoon gospel play, called "Freedom Day," at the Temple Theatre.
Juneteenth is considered the longest-running African American holiday in the nation, honoring the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, nearly two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to free more than 250,000 African Americans still being held in slavery.
Coinciding with this weekend's Juneteenth festival was The Carter Foundation's celebration of its 10th anniversary.
Founded by local businessman James Carter in 2014, The Carter Foundation seeks to educate, motivate and inspire young people in the community in hopes of helping them reach their full potential. The foundation provides mentorships for students, academic tutoring, entrepreneurial and financial literacy workshops, character building activities, as well as outlets for fun, physical fitness, recreation and sports.
On Saturday afternoon, despite scorching temperatures, large crowds of children and youth showed up at the foundation's downtown office on Eighth Street to play on inflatable waterslides, bounce houses and obstacle courses. Basketball games and other activities also were underway.
During a recognition ceremony at the event, The Carter Foundation presented three recent graduates with foundation scholarships to help them with their college expenses. This year's scholarship recipients were Shacobe Rush and Taleah Anderson, both Meridian High School graduates, and Jermyia Jackson, a graduate of Northeast Lauderdale High School.
On Sunday, The Carter Foundation continued its anniversary celebration with its annual "Stop the Violence" 3v3 youth basketball tournament at Velma Young Park. Bounce houses, concessions, games and entertainment also were available.
The city's Juneteenth Heritage Festival continues this week, concluding Wednesday, the actual holiday, with the nighttime Trailblazers recognition and gospel celebration at the Temple Theatre. The event will begin at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
This year's 2024 Trailblazers honorees include Big Krit, Coach Bill McFarland, Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd, Meridian Police Chief Deborah Young and Thomas Walker.
Slated to take part in the gospel celebration are Sharee Smith, Krista Overby, Pastor Daniel Cooley, Pastor Darius Thames, Lynn Dixon, Shedrick Waters and The Unity Fest Choir and evangelist Kajsa Cole.
Contact Glenda Sanders at gsanders@themeridianstar.com.
