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Juneteenth Celebration by The African American Club in West Pasco

Saturday, Jun 18, 2011 | On Target Page: Black Heritage Events

The 2011 Juneteenth Celebration sponsored by The African American Club was a mixture of Music art dance and fellowship and just a tad bit of education. Free food was provided thanks to generous donations by local vendors and businesses. Hundreds of people came out to the Juneteenth Celebration, a family event, marking the arrival of Union troops in Galveston, Texas, on June 18, 1865, to enforce the slavery abolishing Emancipation Proclamation. Activities for the kids included an inflatable bounce house and face painting. The Dorsett Singers entertained and Hip-hop artist Nylahz performed and then gave a motivational speech. Health screenings and a car wash were all part of the festivities.

The event was held at the historic Booker T. Washington school building, a relic of racial segregation in Pasco County public education, dating back to 1924. It is now home to the African American Club. The African American Club not only is seeking landmark status with a historical marker at the former schoolhouse building, but also national recognition for the entire historical community along Pine Hill Road. The African American Club is developing its own website, http://aacpasco.org/ according to Larnelle Scott, president of the African American Club of Pasco and wished to thank Scott and Sondra Hatchett, the Juneteenth celebration chair, for providing a spark for the club. "It's really become re-energized," Daniel Callaghan, a spokesman for the club, said.

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