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The 20th annual JESA & Corsicana Area Coalition Juneteenth Parade & Recognition Ceremony was held this past Saturday. The parade had 31 participants this year and featured everything from horses to a trolley. This was a great start to the celebration for the African-American community but it was a great reminder for us all. The echoes of Lift Every Voice were heard throughout Burnett Park as Mrs. Gertrude Richardson sang the Negro National Anthem. It was a moving song that touched everyone who attended, with a reverence of the struggles that an older generation of black people had endured for the younger ones of today. Pastor D.R. Watson gave a moving speech on the progress of freedom - how much that they had learned by the changes that they had made in each of their lives. “Once slavery was over, we were suppose to take a step forward not backwards. In Texas, we celebrate the revelation of good news- freedom. We need to take progress reports on our freedom- just what have we done to earn it.” Mrs. Patrice Manning was named JESA’s 2008 Grand Marshall. She has been a teacher for the past 26 years and was honored to receive this award. “I love my students just as much as my own son. That’s why it is important to be involved in your children’s education from pre-school till graduation.”
Another important group was honored, the 1968 3-A State Champion Football team from G. W. Jackson High School. They remembered getting onto that Continental Bus and going to Gladewater. Just before arriving to a game, they had a song that they would play to let everybody know that they were coming, James Browns’ “Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud.” And they had every right to be; they are the only team since 1968 to win a State championship in football from Corsicana. There are some old reels from their glory days that are being restored and will be viewed later by anyone who wants to see them. The CAC is trying to save the G.W. Jackson home and Councilwoman Ruby Williams pleaded with everyone to help because she couldn’t do it alone. The Juneteenth Pageant crowned Miss Kezia Winfrey and first runner-up was Nodia Washington. The pageant raised $1125 for scholarships for the ex-Jackson Student Scholarship Fund. This year’s pageant, parade, and recognition ceremony was a testament to all races, encouraging everyone to reflect on the past, honor our ancestors’ everyday, strive towards the goal of earning our place in our history, and make a difference in someone’s life, as well as our own. As the 1968, champions would say and still make it their motto-“Hold that line!” Hold the line on the past, uphold our present and secure our future. |
