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Young and young at heart celebrated Juneteenth with an annual cultural pageant sponsored by the African American Cultural Society on Monday.
Set at Historic Israel Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church on the West Side of the city, audience members began the event by singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” after pageant moderator Naomi Bailey offered words of wisdom, telling the group seated that Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration marking the end of slavery.
“It was a chapter written 149 years ago,” Bailey said adding that we must visit the past, enjoy the present and aspire to attain new heights in the future.
On Jan. 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation thus ending slavery but the news did not reach Texas for 2 1/2 years on June 19, 1865.
Two pageant contestants — Allison Delk and Jasmin’ Rogers, each used the theme “African American women in history and culture” and made a presentation about a famous African American woman.
Delk chose Frances Ellen Watkins whose powerful poem “Bury Me in a Free Land” inspires her to reach her goals.
“This great women inspires me,” Delk, a 10th grader at Memorial High School, said of the poet who continued to be a positive influence after losing her husband and other loved ones. “I hold the key to my future.”
Jasmin’ Rogers, also a sophomore at Memorial High School, chose to speak about Janet Collins, the first black ballerina at the Metropolitan Opera. Collins, a New Orleans native who grew up in Los Angeles, Calif., and through her struggles opened the door for other black dancers to take the stage.
“She has inspired me to work hard to reach my goal of becoming a professional model and face each challenge before me,” Rogers said.
R. Kelly’s song “I Believe,” whose lyrics speak of overcoming adversity and not losing sight of ones dream, was played during intermission while the Juneteenth princesses stepped to the back of the church to prepare for the parade of African inspired fashions. Delk chose a green and gold dress and jacket set while Rogers opted for a red with gold trim skirt set.
The teens were joined by past Juneteenth queens, also clad in traditional African attire.
The festivities will continue at 5 p.m. Tuesday with a Juneteenth Parade. Line-up begins at Stilwell and Procter Street. The parade will travel down Procter Street and end at the pavilion where there will be activities. The event is free and open to the public.
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Jasmin' Rogers models traditional African clothing during the Juneteenth Cultural Pageant at the Historic Israel Chapel AME Church in Port Arthur on Monday evening. Morgan Jones
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Juneteenth Cultural Pageant celebrates past, present, future
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