Earl Brown, who worked with the Peace Corps in a number of African countries as well as in the South American nation of Guyana, spoke on the link between Africa and America. Brown is a co-founder of River City Community Development Corporation and a former director of the small business and technology center at Elizabeth City State University. "There is a very strong connection," Brown said. "Sometimes we don't know how strong the connection is." He said that in 1978 when his family - living at the time in Durham - was preparing to move to Africa, his daughter's classmate asked her if she was afraid to go to Africa since there are Africans there. He told her "we are going to the land of our ancestors." Brown talked about contributions African-Americans have made to Africa. African-American political scientists helped write the constitutions of Kenya and several other African nations, he said. In addition, African-American pilots taught Ethiopians how to fly and Olympic gold medalist Mel Whitfield conducted distance running clinics in Ethiopia. A number of food-related traditions are of African origin, he said, including that of fixing a take-home plate at a church supper or other feast. The celebrations in New Orleans "have a very strong African flavor," Brown said. Africans brought their rice-growing knowledge to Louisiana, and watermelons in America started from watermelon seeds brought by Africans, he said. He encouraged people to take a trip to Africa, where they can see poverty but also modern cities, and traditional culture as well as modern culture. Some African countries allow dual citizenship, he noted.
Tanzania RPCV Earl Brown Speaks at Juneteenth Festival at Elizabeth City
Celebrating Freedom: Juneteenth honors Brown
By REGGIE PONDER
Staff Writer
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Caption:
Verven Mosley and grandson Daniel Mosley join with the crowd to sing the Negro National Anthem at this year's Juneteenth at Waterfront Park, Saturday. Photo: Thomas J. Turney/The Daily Advance
Just a week after the slaying of 18-year-old DaJuan Brown in Elizabeth City, River City Community Development Corporation dedicated its Juneteenth festival to Brown's memory, called for an end to violence in the community and prayed for hope.
Director Lenora Jarvis-Mackey reminded the crowd during the opening ceremony that the festival this year was being held as a tribute to DaJuan Brown.
"This is really a bittersweet occasion," she said.
During the invocation, Pastor Kevin Smith prayed "give those who don't have hope a reason for hope."
The festival celebrates the emancipation of American slaves and also looks to the future, focusing on education and cultural awareness. This was the ninth Juneteenth festival sponsored by River City CDC, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary as an organization this year, at the city's Waterfront Park.
A special "Stop the Violence Now" rally was held at 5 p.m. and Juneteenth T-shirts bore the words "in memory of DaJuan JaQue Brown."
There was a variety of music as well as food and other vendors, plus booths offering information about organizations in the community.
Earl Brown, who worked with the Peace Corps in a number of African countries as well as in the South American nation of Guyana, spoke on the link between Africa and America. Brown is a co-founder of River City Community Development Corporation and a former director of the small business and technology center at Elizabeth City State University.
"There is a very strong connection," Brown said. "Sometimes we don't know how strong the connection is."
He said that in 1978 when his family - living at the time in Durham - was preparing to move to Africa, his daughter's classmate asked her if she was afraid to go to Africa since there are Africans there. He told her "we are going to the land of our ancestors."
Brown talked about contributions African-Americans have made to Africa. African-American political scientists helped write the constitutions of Kenya and several other African nations, he said. In addition, African-American pilots taught Ethiopians how to fly and Olympic gold medalist Mel Whitfield conducted distance running clinics in Ethiopia.
A number of food-related traditions are of African origin, he said, including that of fixing a take-home plate at a church supper or other feast.
The celebrations in New Orleans "have a very strong African flavor," Brown said.
Africans brought their rice-growing knowledge to Louisiana, and watermelons in America started from watermelon seeds brought by Africans, he said.
He encouraged people to take a trip to Africa, where they can see poverty but also modern cities, and traditional culture as well as modern culture. Some African countries allow dual citizenship, he noted.
Elizabeth City Councilman Michael Brooks, speaking on "From the Slave House to the White House," told of the first Africans who were brought to the shores of Virginia as slaves, "victims of crimes against humanity" in "an attempt to take away their pride, their dignity and their character."
But despite all they suffered, "they still had a song in their heart of one day being free," he said. He quoted words from the traditional spiritual "Wade in the Water."
Even after the Emancipation Proclamation officially freed them from slavery, they still suffered bitter and inhumane treatment, but kept in their hearts the song "We Shall Overcome," Brooks said. The song "spoke to the conscience of America" and pointed the way from the slave house to the White House, he said.
He mentioned President Barack Obama's use of the phrase "Yes We Can!" during his campaign.
Brooks said if he could offer a state of the union address to the late Martin Luther King Jr. he would tell him his living had not been in vain. "Because of your living," he would say, "America has come one step closer to making real" the words of the Pledge of Allegiance, Declaration of Independence and the song "America."
"Martin Luther King, your living was not in vain, and we shall overcome - yes we can!" Brooks concluded.
Erica Ramjohn, Juneteenth chairwoman, thanked the volunteers and River City CDC staff, as well as everyone who attended.
The Juneteenth celebration in Elizabeth City is "bigger and better every year," she said.
Leron Wilson, 26, of Elizabeth City, enjoyed the festival with his children.
"It's hot but it's breezy," Wilson said. "It's a good day to be outside."
Bayside Church of Christ was giving away lemonade, brochures and New Testaments.
"Everything we have here we're giving away - we're not selling anything," said Don Fluharty, a church member.
The church also was signing people up for a Bible correspondence course.
"It's just to expose the church to the community, and hopefully if the community needs anything they'll come to us and ask for it," Fluharty said of the congregation's presence at the festival.
Winners of the 2010 High School Essay Competition were announced during the opening ceremony: Nicholas Lannon won a $100 prize and Denna McCalla won $75.
The topic was significant inventions from African-Americans in the United States since the emancipation from slavery.
