Crowd builds at JuneteenthOhio

For YourNewsColumbus.com

Posted 06-22-09

A quick sampling of young people at this year's JuneteenthOhio observance at Franklin Park suggested that many need a briefing or refresher on what the observance means.

Some had no idea at all, many knew it had something to do with slavery, and at least one youngster thought slaves in Texas were the first, rather than the last to receive word about the Emancipation Proclamation.

Jaquan Allen, 11, who will be a sixth-grader at Westmoor Middle School this fall, had the part of the Emancipation Proclamation, but didn't realize there was a 2 1/2-year gap between the time Abrahm Lincoln signed the presidential order and when slaves in Galveston, Texas, learned they had been freed.

Regardless of what young people know about a president who faced difficult decisions in the 1860s, many appreciate the historic role on thhe White House's cuurrent occupant.

The local observance has been going on for 19 years, "but when Obama became president it really took off," said Mustafaa Shabazz, organizer of JuneteenthOhio and owner of Ujamaa Bookstore.

He encourages blacks to patronize African-American businesses, allowing money dollars to circulate longer in the black community.

Is Said has been one of the anchors at Juneteenth and other community festivals, usually working a booth to sell books of his poetry and T-shirts with thought-proking designs and messages.

"It's a successful event that's consistent with our history." he said.

Some of that history includes black inventors, who were featured in an exhibit at this year's celebration.

Uriah Anang, 11, readily recited Granville T. Woods and Garrett Morgan, whose inventions included the synchronous multiplex railway telegraph and the traffic signal, respectively.

Funnelcakes and the like are givens at community festivals, but Juneteenth also brings out ethinic food vendors.

The Triple R J Restaurant on Cleveland Avenue usually sticks to Jamaican vegetarian and fish dishes, but brought along some chicken for the festival crowd, said Carla Watson

Asbury North United Methodist Church used Juneteenth to sell cake and other homemade food as a fundraiser.

"It was a wonderful experience," said Troy Williams, cook.

Gooblers won't hold its grand opening as an all-turkey restaurant until Tuesday, but gave the crowd an idea of what to expect.

Charlene Simmons, operations mannager in charge of African-American networking for Fifth-Third Bank, was straight-forward about the company's desire to attract more customers from the black community.She also wanted the public to know that Jordan Miller, president and chief executive officer of Fifth Third Bank Central Ohio, is African-American.

Sunny weather probably helped this year's attendance, but a certain feel-good atmosphere made the event a hit, according to Dede Turner.

"I enjoy being around my people." she said.

Marshall Finney of New Albany likes to socialize, so it follows that he likes Juneteenth and the other festivals that abound in central Ohio.

Michelle Armstead, who attended with relatives and friends, said, "I love the chance to be in the community; I always support this."