May 30, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Betty Fudge-Biggles (Phoenix Affaire Group) 1.229.205.0218 (m)
Contact: Maxine Cohen-Sawyer (Club 619) 1.229.220.2398(m)
Organizers call for more local black history preservation (BAINBRIDGE)-----------
Two local grassroots black community organizations will join forces this year to produce the city-supported 4 th Annual Juneteenth Jubilee! Celebration set for June 15th, 16th and 19th at various locations in Bainbridge.
The local grassroots black community organization known as the Phoenix Affaire Group which originated local Juneteenth events back in 2021 when President Joe Biden first declared Juneteenth a federal holiday will spearhead this year’s planning and, for the first time, will partner with another newly-formed local black community organization called Club 619 referencing the actual date of June 19th otherwise known as Black Independence Day. As you may know, Juneteenth celebrates what some say is the ‘absolute’ end of slavery in America on June 19, 1865 albeit more than two years after then-President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation (1863) freeing all those enslaved. For whatever reason, news of their freedom failed to reach slaves in Texas until some two and a half years later. “The focus this year during our main event scheduled for the actual nationwide day of observance for Juneteenth (June 19th) will be a call to local city and black leaders, community advocates, local historians and politicians to closely examine why there aren’t more local historical markers and teachings of the black history in Bainbridge and Decatur County”, says Rahn d. Fudge of San Francisco, Calif., Creator and Executive Producer of the Phoenix Affaire Group who happens to also be a 1979 graduate of Bainbridge High School.
The three-day celebration being planned will take place in three different locations in and around Bainbridge starting on Saturday, June 15th (10am – 3 pm) at the Earle May Boat Basin for what’s being called “Freedom Enterprise Day” filled with a full day of live entertainment and community entrepreneurs showcasing their products and services. This will be followed the next day, June 16th (2 pm – 4 pm), with a “Father & Son Day” event on Father’s Day at the Burn Christian Center adjacent to St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church located on the Old Thomasville Road (Hwy. 84). The final day event, “Juneteenth Observance Day”, to happen on Wednesday, June 19th inside Willis Park (On The Square) in historic downtown Bainbridge (1 pm – 3pm). Local black history enthusiast, Patricia Washington, will keynote the occasion urging and reemphasizing the importance and need for city, county and community leaders to do more to preserve local black history.
“We are hopeful to see a good turnout (and also praying for good weather) all three days this year and we invite the whole community to join us in celebrating and educating ourselves about the historical significance of Juneteenth” says Phoenix Affaire Group and Club 619 organizers. #############
I N SUMMARY JUNETEENTH JUBILEE!
2024 Schedule Of Events – Bainbridge, Georgia
● Saturday, June 15th, Earle May Boat Basin (10am - 3pm)
● Sunday, June 16th, Burn Christian Center (2pm – 4pm)
● Wednesday, June 19th, Historic Willis Park On The Square (1pm - 3pm