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Reviving A Tradition: ‘Celebrating the Survivors of the Journey’ Syracuse Juneteenth 2019 Ancestral Event

Syracuse Juneteenth 2019 Ancestral Celebration along with Mayor Ben Walsh, honored the festival’s NIA award recipients they are the following: Linda Clark, George Kilpatrick, Van Robinson and Jesse Dowdell

Syracuse Juneteenth 2019 Ancestral Celebration was a special event called ‘Celebrating the Survivors of the Journey’ bringing together many of those who were there at the beginning, the “Originators” some going back over 30 years. It’s those individuals who were honored with the festival’s NIA award in an event planned by Cora Thomas and the Syracuse Juneteenth Committee, as empowered by 2019 President Kevin Henry. Hosting duties were handled by Dr. Rick Wright and of course Power620 was in the house.

Syracuse Juneteenth Ancestral Committee (click on photo to enlarge)

Traditionally held the evening before the actually Parade and Clinton Square activities, the Syracuse Juneteenth 2019 Ancestral Celebration rose to another level with a sold out commemorative party that included entertainment dinner, a host of desserts  and a cash bar.

DJ Showcase was on the scene closing out the event with dance music!! The Ancestral Celebration included a delicious dinner, with catering by Chef Tommy L Jackson.

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh was on hand to assist with the award presentations. The well attended event was a virtual who’s who in the history of Juneteenth Syracuse. Each awardee spoke of the journey that culminates with the 2019 edition of Syracuse Juneteenth.

Syracuse Juneteenth 2019 Ancestral Celebration honored the festival’s NIA award recipients they are the following:

  • Linda Clark
  • George Kilpatrick
  • Van Robinson
  • Jesse Dowdell

After receiving their award, each recipient had a few words to say about their role in the creation of Syracuse Juneteenth, the early days and what we are now witnessing with this coming back together.

Syracuse Juneteenth Ancestral Mayor Walsh and Linda Clark (click on photo to enlarge)

Linda Clark, former Director of the Ida Benderson Senior Center  spoke of the meaning of Juneteenth and the gravity of what we are now celebrating, “ It was two years, two long years of working for free, two years after others were freed. “ Clark’s remarks were an emotional beginning to what was to become an evening of testimony. Clark’s emphasis on the harshness of conditions brought home the fact that, as Clark emphasized, “the African-American community needed something of our own, and that was Syracuse Juneteenth. ”

George Kilpatrick Is one of many who worked on the concept of bringing Juneteenth to Syracuse. Through his employment as Director of Minority Affairs with the City of Syracuse Kilpatrick leveraged his connections with the city of Syracuse; adding the weight of then-Mayor Tom Young’s Administrations “Mayor’s Minority Affairs Advisory Council” where he championed both Syracuse Juneteenth and the Jerry Rescue Monument. At that time the Jerry Rescue was Chet Whiteside’s dream, Kilpatrick helped turn that conceptual idea into what we now see in Clinton Square.

Syracuse Juneteenth Ancestral Mayor Walsh and George Kilpatrick (click on photo to enlarge)

George Kilpatrick brought fire to the ceremony, acknowledging all of those who were working to forward the cause of bringing Juneteenth in Syracuse NY, stating “Initially for me it was about trying to bring together a family celebration that celebrated who we are, and who we- really- knew -we –were- as a people in this country and this community.  As a Syracuse community; our history of abolitionism as seen in the Jerry Rescue, just down the street from here. We have a legacy and a history, the Underground Railroad is here. We have a number of ways that the Juneteenth Festival and Juneteenth celebration resonates with us as a community. It was my idea to bring that sense to our community, to give us something to be proud of that celebrates not only the legacy, the complete end to slavery June 19, 1965. But also celebrates who we are as a community in central New York. And to remind us of who we are and who we can be, when you talk about being a visionary in this community.”

Kilpatrick continues, “We were doing Juneteenth but when Venita, came Juneteenth got big. I Remember Southwest Center Director, Jessie Dowdell at the end of the first celebration, we had 300 people there he said, ‘Well George, I think we have something here’ and now 31 years later, we have something here!”  Kilpatrick went on to rattle off an impressive list of people: “Vanessa Johnson, Risks Enzi, Sue Rice, Francis McMillan Parks, Agnes Johnson, Karen Stroud, Elaine Warford, Wilena Price, Venita, Vicki Quigley, Linda Sullivan, Juneteenth Board, Kitty Rice, Mayor Tom Young, Mayor Minority Affairs Advisory Council, Larry Woodard, Parks and Recreation, Van Robinson, Jesse Dowdell, Denvil Hammons, Georgette Davis and others who have supported the work over the years.”

Kilpatrick in a later conversation is reminiscing about the early years, “a church service at Plymouth because of the underground railroad and then we would end the traditional black church service at 4 o’clock. We developed a sister city relationship back then with Fort Worth Texas proclamations etc. Judge Mary Ellen Hicks of Fort Worth (sister of Frances Parks(sp)would come the first few years and participate in local activities in support of Juneteenth.”

Syracuse Juneteenth Ancestral Mayor Walsh and Van Robinson (click on photo to enlarge)

Van Robinson Robinson was honored for his steadfast support of many things that are now Syracuse. Introduced by Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh cited for being a community visionary. “We had to educate, because people didn’t know a thing about Juneteenth means. Ask someone today and they’ll tell you they know about Juneteenth.” Robinson went on to provide a history lesson on the importance of Syracuse in the Underground Railroad, our importance in the movement for freedom and Syracuse’s historic role in providing salt to the world. Robinson continued with his assessment of interstate 81 when he first moved to Syracuse. When he first gazed at Pioneer Homes, “I knew those were for Black people”

Syracuse Juneteenth Ancestral honoree, Jessie Dowdell

Jesse Dowdell – Former Director of Southwest Community Center.  Dowdell- Attended the function leaving before he could be honored along with other founders.  Without Jessie Dowdell and his leadership, there would be no Syracuse Juneteenth. Dowdell allowed Southwest Community Center aka Syracuse Model Neighborhood Facility to become home to Syracuse Juneteenth.  The center assumed tremendous risk by staging a major festival along a commercial corridor. Allowing staff to plan and implement, which is key to the development of anything involving the Syracuse community.  The center offered Syracuse Juneteenth a home to grow and develop into a festival that is become known to more people, as word has spread that Syracuse NY has its own Juneteenth Celebration.

Syracuse Juneteenth Ancestral Celebration Dr. Joan Hillsman and Cora Thomas

The Syracuse Juneteenth “Celebrating the Survivors of the Journey” Ancestral Celebration was a roaring success, attendees were served great food, Music by DJ Showcase, Dr. Rick Wright as Master of Ceremonies and Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh was on hand assisting with the presentation of the NIA awards.

The Syracuse Juneteenth “Celebrating the Survivors of the Journey” Ancestral Celebration was coordinated by Cora Thomas who presented an affordable, event filled evening and a room full of people catching up with old friends and acquaintances. It would be an understatement to say a good time was had by all.

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