Juneteenth Parade and Festival

The Juneteenth Parade starting at Yerger and going to Northside Park was well-attended. At the park Sylvia Brown directed traffic into the park and spoke about the sponsors and read the proclamation made by both  county Judge Jerry Crane and the City Council acknowledging the history of Juneteenth and Hempstead County. Brown encouraged people to attend VOTE SoAR meetings held the first Wednesday of each month.

The sponsors for the event included Summit Utilities, Hope Auto, City of Hope Tourism Commission, Arkansas Arts Council, Friends of Mosaic Templars Cultural Center. Amigo Juan’s, Farmer’s Bank and Trust, Steve Montgomery Company Inc/McDonald’s, Sylvia C. Brown, Arkansas Democratic Caucus. Blondie Bradley, It’s D. Love, Marsha K. White, First Baptist church of Hope, Kiffenea Talley, Dr. Linda Clark and Mockingbird Analytics.

Special Recognition went to AEP/SWEPCO and Historic Washington Foundation.

After Brown spoke and Kattie Flenory with her husband Alvin at her side spoke about the way it was compared to how it is now and showed pictures. She talked about how much harder things were then and easier they are are now. One of the statements she made was when she told him to shoot the basketball he shot not caring whether or not he made the shot. Her presentation included many different contrasts including how clothes were washed, obtaining food and water, bathing, irons, bathing and many other comparisons