Amun Ra Inc. hosts 2nd Juneteenth event
Published 8:32 pm Saturday, June 29, 2024
A gathering of people await the beginning of the Grown Folk Old Skool Party on Friday, June 14, at Barrett’s Landing Park. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Participants in the second annual Juneteenth Cultural Celebration take part in a line dance. (Submitted photo)
Event attendees pictured are, from left, Mariessa Terrell, attorney adviser from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and Cynthia Downs-Taylor, senior adviser to U.S. Sen. Mark Warner. (Photo by Alford Kindred from Coach Al Photography and 360 PhotoBooth)
Sankofa Band/Frankie Beverly and Maze Tribute Band perform Sunday evening, June 16, at Barrett’s Landing Park. (Photo courtesy of MTQ Digital Designs)
Dancing to the music Friday evening, June 14, at Barrett’s Landing are, from left, Janet Belgrave, Charlotte McKeller and Karen Popovich. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
A participant in the second annual Juneteenth Cultural Celebration basketball tournament goes up for a dunk at College Drive Park. (Photo courtesy of Telease and MTQ Digital Designs)
African dancers and drummers perform at Barrett’s Landing Park. (Photo courtesy of Telease and MTQ Digital Designs)
The second annual Juneteenth Cultural Celebration included a wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial for the slaves of the Camp Plantation of Southampton County. (Photo by Telease)
(Photo by Titus Mohler)
(Photo by Titus Mohler)
(Photo by Titus Mohler)
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Organizers were pleased with the level of participation in the second annual Juneteenth Cultural Celebration recently held in Franklin and hosted by the nonprofit organization Amun Ra Inc.
The celebration, which ran from Friday-Sunday, June 14-16, took place across various events held each day at either Barrett’s Landing Park or College Drive Park. The events included the sold-out Nat Turner Story Tour, Black history reflections, line dancing, a basketball tournament, African drummers and dancers, live music, open mic sessions and more.
As he attended the city-sponsored Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 22, Ward 3 City Councilman Gregory McLemore shared his thoughts on the second annual Juneteenth Cultural Celebration, which he organized.
“The second annual one, to me, was great considering we didn’t have the support of the city,” he said. “Had the city supported us like they did last year, I would have been able to bring in better entertainment and just made the whole event. These things cost a lot of money, and I lost the city’s support, I lost FSEDI’s support, I lost Bronco Federal Credit Union’s support… But God is good, and we were able to pull off all three days, and we had people all three days, so we were very happy.”
He noted that participation was at its highest level on Saturday and was also good on Friday.
Referencing the second annual event and the city, he later said, “Why we didn’t work together, I’ll never understand, but hopefully next year it’s going to be bigger and even better. I’ve got some secret plans next year, and next year it should be more inclusive of more people in the city. So I’m working on that now.”
