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Former governor and current Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist pumps up the crowd Saturday during Juneteenth celebrations in Palatka. -
Allana Southernland Prince plays the saxophone during the event. -
All Stars Sports and Athletics do a cheer routine during Juneteenth celebrations Saturday afternoon. -
Poet Melissa Clemons performs spoken word during Palatka’s Juneteenth event. -
Former Palatka Commissioner Mary Lawson Brown, left, and event organizer La’Farrah Davis speak Sunday during the Juneteenth pageant. -
Positively Putnam, FL
Jazz music rang out from Palatka Junior-Senior High School on Saturday afternoon as food trucks cooked up soul food, sweets and specialty foods to celebrate Juneteenth.
The second annual event celebrated Black slaves in Texas learning June 19, 1865, that slavery in the United States had ended.
“I am at a loss for words,” said organizer La'Farrah Davis, who added that the event surpassed all her expectations.
Juneteenth, according to the Smithsonian Museum’s National Museum of African American History & Culture, celebrates the day Union Troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, and said the “more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state were freed by executive decree.”
Although the Emancipation Proclamation was issued Jan. 1, 1863, the museum states slaves held in places that remained under control by the Confederacy were not freed at that time. In some places, it took years for word to reach people.
Palatka had a Juneteenth celebration in 2021, and the community showed up again this year to recognize the occasion.
Vendors filled the Palatka Junior-Senior High School commons, with the Putnam County School District, Azalea City Brewing Co., Putnam County Republican and Democratic parties and the Lee Conlee House, among other local groups, attending to help celebrate. People sold homemade crafts and hosted giveaways as children danced to music from live performers.
Davis thanked the school district for allowing celebrations to be at Palatka High.
Superintendent Rick Surrency said the school district is part of the community and he is happy for district buildings to be used for local events.
“We want to be there and show support,” he said.
Former Gov. Charlie Crist also made an appearance Saturday, speaking to attendees and even singing “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” for the crowd. Crist announced his campaign against Gov. Ron DeSantis, saying he is running again to be “the people’s governor.”
“You ever heard of the Golden Rule? Do unto others as you would have done unto you? … It just means be decent to one another, respect each other, be kind to each other,” Crist said Saturday. “We’re all children of God, right? And, so, we need to treat each other like that and get back to the basics. And I know it sounds corny, but it’s never been more important.”
The weekend’s festivities did not stop Saturday, though.
This year’s celebrations brought a little competition to the city with the inaugural Palatka Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant & Benefit Gala on Sunday.
The first-place winner received $300, the runner-up received $200 and the second runner-up received $100, Davis said.
The winners were:
– Palatka 2022 Mr. Juneteenth: D’montay Barnes.
– Palatka 2022 Miss Juneteenth first runner-up: Ja’Miya Johnson.
– Palatka 2022 Junior Miss Juneteenth: Nevaeh Williams.
– Palatka Junior Miss runner-up: Ava Jones.
– Palatka 2022 Prince Juneteenth: Kavan L. Johnson.
– Palatka 2022 Princess Juneteenth: Chloe Smith.
– Palatka 2022 Princess Juneteenth first runner-up: Amani Hamilton.
– Palatka 2022 Princess Juneteenth second runner-up: Angel Miller.
Davis said the honorees embodied hard work and dedication.
She hopes the Juneteenth events can return next year and be something the whole community looks forward to attending in June.
“It was just off the charts,” Davis said. “I am so grateful that we got this support.”
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