Spring Break
Juneteenth: A Day of Remembrance, Celebration
Angel Wilson
Issue date: 6/26/03 Section: NEWS
The Reading of the Names ceremony was put together by the Institute For the Study of Race Relations. The ceremony was first done four years ago, when Juneteenth ceremonies were just starting up in the States. Dr. Renee Hill and Dr. Dirk Philipsen, who work at the Institute, said that the list includes about 6,000 names and usually takes three days to recite. "We'll give you a mini-version," Philipsen said. The mini-version was 30 minutes long and was read by six people. The speakers often paused in the middle of the list to collect themselves, or briefly told those listening about the sorrow they felt at having to read the names.
Greg Brown, founder and president of the Black Holocaust Society, was brought to tears as he talked about the East St. Louis Massacre of 1917, where between 250 and 750 blacks had been killed due to "competition of labor."
The hunting and killing of any one black in industrial area "became a sport," for whites, Brown explained. "The thing that made you a victim was this," he added, pointing to his skin.
Despite the small turnout from locals, Meyers was not discouraged. "The Lord said that where two or more are gathered in my name, I will be present," he said.
Contact Angel Wilson at district_chronicles@hotmail.com
Greg Brown, founder and president of the Black Holocaust Society, was brought to tears as he talked about the East St. Louis Massacre of 1917, where between 250 and 750 blacks had been killed due to "competition of labor."
The hunting and killing of any one black in industrial area "became a sport," for whites, Brown explained. "The thing that made you a victim was this," he added, pointing to his skin.
Despite the small turnout from locals, Meyers was not discouraged. "The Lord said that where two or more are gathered in my name, I will be present," he said.
Contact Angel Wilson at district_chronicles@hotmail.com