Jamestown Juneteenth organizer Regina Brackman shares details about the three-day festival celebrating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States.

The showing of the free movie is co-sponsored by the Jamestown Human Rights Commission as part of Juneteenth.

The movie starts at 7:15 p.m. on the Comedy Center’s jumbo screens on West Second Street. People are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets for seating.

The event will take place noon to 7:00 p.m. at the Morton Club located at 118 Pratt Avenue in Jamestown.

It will feature a basket raffle as well as beer and wine slushies.

Tickets are $15 and include a half chicken, a choice of potato or macaroni salad, baked beans, and a roll. They can be purchased at the door or presale by calling (716) 708-9942.

Juneteenth Organizer Regina Brackman said proceeds from the event and other Juneteenth events go to support the Juneteenth Scholarship fund, “I think it was in 2021, we were able to give away three $800 scholarships just based on assets of the events that we had and the money that was raised. Last year, we gave away three $1,000 scholarships. So, it seems like we’re progressing on the amount of the value of the scholarships that we can give away.”

Brackman said the scholarship is open to students in the Greater Jamestown region.

She said they’re still looking for volunteers to help at the fundraiser on April 29 and for Juneteenth as well. People who are interested can contact Regina at 716-499-5849.

For more information about Juneteenth activities in Jamestown, visit facebook.com/JtownJteenth

Jamestown Human Rights Commission meeting (April 5, 2023)

The Jamestown Human Rights Commission has approved funding to co-sponsor with the National Comedy Center a Juneteenth event.

The National Comedy Center is planning to show “The Nutty Professor” starring Eddie Murphy on Monday, June 19. HRC member Kim Knight, who is also helping with Juneteenth event plans, said the contribution for the HRC would be $425. The event would feature the movie on the Comedy Center’s screens on West Second Street as well as concessions sold by the Juneteenth Committee to benefit their scholarship fund.

The HRC also will be collaborating with Jamestown Community College on a Human Rights focused event. JCC Coordinator of World Languages Theresa Baginski said the college was awarded a three year grant to “globalize” the experience at JCC. She said their goal is to hold at least two Human Rights events in connection with the college over the next three years.

The Commission discussed ideas of a poster contest for middle school students, having a comedian perform, and having a speaker discuss the topic of refugees and immigrants that includes a facilitated discussion. A couple members of the HRC will work with JCC on development of the event.

The Commission also voted to spend up to $500 to purchase “swag” items to hand out when tabling at events. The group is expected to review possible items and costs at its meeting in May.

Vickye James

A new grant fund has been created at the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County in honor of former Board President Vickye James.

James, who died in 2021, was a member of the Board of Directors of United Way for seven years and served as Board President from 2008-2010. She was one of only four female presidents during the 122-year history of United Way, and the only African American to serve as president to date.

The Vickye James Blueprint Fund, created in her honor, will provide grants for non-profits for programs and activities in the areas of youth engagement and development; Juneteenth event support, leadership development efforts focused on historically marginalized communities; poverty-reduction efforts, and support for grassroots or newly formed organizations.

All requests for funding must fall within the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County’s four areas of Strategic Focus: Academic Success, Self Sufficiency, Work Readiness, and Health and Independence.
Organizations interested in applying should first visit the United Way’s website for additional information about how to apply, including deadlines and process, at uwayscc.org/vickye-james-blueprint-fund.

For questions about the fund, contact Lindsey Goold, Director of Community Impact, at 716-483-1561 ext. 201 or email her at lrensel@uwayscc.org.

EDITOR’S NOTE: As a point of transparency and disclosure to our audience, the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County is a corporate underwriter for WRFA and has provided a financial contribution for the general operations of the station within the past year. Funding we receive for General Operations is not used to fund our coverage of local news in the community. That is only made possible through a Community Service Grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Juneteenth recognizes when enslaved people living in Galveston, Texas, learned of their emancipation approximately 2.5 years after the Civil War ended. On June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Texas became free. This was the last state of the Confederacy to learn of the independence, even though President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.

The annual Juneteenth Festival will start with a free showing of the movie “Sister Act 2” at the National Comedy Center the evening of Friday, June 17. Activities begin at 6:00 p.m. with basket raffles, drawings, and concession stands.

An opening ceremony for the Juneteenth Festival will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 18 at Jackson-Taylor Park. Saturday’s itinerary will feature a variety of live music, entertainment, a basketball tournament, and food/craft vendors. Families are encouraged to bring their children to Jackson-Taylor Park from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to take part in games, contests, and activities, including a meet-and-greet with Jamestown Fire Department.

Saturday night’s performances at Jackson-Taylor Park for the Festival include poet and author Rodney Mitchell at 4:00 p.m.; and blues artist Marsha McWilson performing at 6:00 p.m.

On Sunday, a 9:00 a.m. morning worship services will be followed by more live music, vendors, and basketball. Festival attendees will also have the opportunity to attend the Carol Faison Memorial Gospel Fest at 3:00 p.m. The announcement of the Juneteenth Scholarship Winners will take place Sunday evening.

In observance of Juneteenth, the Jamestown City Clerk’s Office will be closed Monday, June 20.

Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist said other city departments will be open that day.

He added that starting in 2023, Juneteenth will be a paid holiday for all City of Jamestown employees.

A free showing of the movie “Sister Act” will take place at the National Comedy Center on Friday, June 17 with other activities planned for June 18 and 19 at Jackson-Taylor Park.

Juneteenth Planning Committee Chair Regina Brackman said there will be a lot of activities for families and kids, “Games and carnival activities, we have a three-on-three basketball tournament that will be going through the day, there will be music, we have food vendors, Juneteenth (committee) will be operating a concession stand. That money from the concession stand goes toward our scholarship fund.”

Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, originated in Galveston, Texas to commemorate the anniversary date of June 19, 1865 when the announcement came proclaiming freedom for enslaved people in Texas, which was the last state of the confederacy with institutional slavery.

President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law in 2021, recognizing the day as a federal holiday.

Brackman said Juneteenth means a lot today with the Buffalo mass shooting and racial division she sees, “The fact that they made it a holiday speaks volumes, because now you’re acknowledging that that was a pivotal time in our history. And that it needs to be acknowledged, you know, this is a celebration. I think it gives pride that we’re a population that endured a lot and we’ve come a long way, but there’s still a long way to go.”

Brackman said they still need volunteers to help with setting up the event and then during the event. She said they also welcome donations to help defray costs of the event.

Those interested in volunteering or donating to this year’s Juneteenth Celebration can email juneteenthofjamestownny@gmail.com or visit the group’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/JTownJTeenth/

Most federal workers will observe the holiday today. Several states and the District of Columbia announced that government offices would be closed today. New York State had declared Juneteenth a holiday for the first time in 2020.

Juneteenth is the 12th federal holiday, including Inauguration Day once every four years. It’s also the first federal holiday since the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday was added in 1983.

Locally, Juneteenth will be celebrated this weekend in Jackson-Taylor Park. The opening ceremony at 11am will feature a tree planting in honor of City Councilmember and Juneteenth organizer Vickye James, who died in March. Saturday will include sport activities, carnival games, and vendors at the park.

On Sunday at 9 a.m., a morning worship service will be led by Guest Speaker Minister Amaysha Ray Smith. Activities will continue through Sunday with Gospel Fest performing artist Carol Louise Pennamon Faison at 3pm and concluding with the presentation of the Vickye James scholarship to a graduating senior pursuing a college education. All events are free.