A Celebration for all....

I took pictures at the third Juneteenth Festival that Laurens has held in celebration of the emancipation of thousands of enslaved African Americans.

The festivities lasted all day and featured dance and music performances to accompany the speakers during the event.

The Buffalo Soldiers, a program designed for youth to learn the history of African Americans in the U.S. military as well as learning a form of marching that incorporates stepping and understanding verbal commands.

The most inspiring part of the day for me was when all 80 or so people under the shelter stood to sing the African American National anthem. As an outsider and Caucasian I had a very unusual feeling. At first I felt like an outsider then I listened to the determined words that these people sang with such feeling.

Never have I felt such shame, such sadness, and then finally the great pride that we all are Americans, and this is how far we have come in a relatively short period of time.

I wish I could have wandered around the festival all day, but unfortunately my other duties called me away. Below are a couple of pictures that I snapped at the opening ceremony.

Several of The Buffalo Soldier Leadership Program stand at attention during the program

Michael Washington, the director of the Juneteenth program introduces his daughter who sang the African American National Anthem

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A video of the African American National Anthem

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The Buffalo Soldiers do a line formation

Members of the Long Branch Baptist Church out of Grover, NC perform a "Worship Dance" called "Freedom Song"