BY BRANDY TEMPLETON

Statesville celebrated Juneteenth in a big way on Saturday. It was a day of remembrance, celebration, and sharing.

Numerous guest speakers, musicians and 82 vendors participated in the downtown event, and there was a kids play area with a bouncy house and slide.

The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, the Statesville Police Department, and the Statesville Fire Department were on hand, along with representatives of Doosan Bobcat, Denso, the Iredell County Public Library, Pharos Parenting, Rainbow Kidz, Iredell Museums, Statesville‘s NAACP and its youth council, area health care representatives and churches.

Food included fried fish, turkey legs, pork chops, ribs, fried corn, Italian Ice, a variety of baked desserts, and more. There were also multiple vendors with art, clothing, crafts, and other goods for sale.

Juneteenth Festival Chair Tevin Carr said the annual festival grows each year, bringing several hundred people this year. He encouraged attendees to do more.

“Young Black men have to mobilize. I’m hoping to encourage my generation … to identify, be part of the celebration, and mobilize by getting involved. They need to hear our voices.

“We need to increase our voices,” Carr said. “Our elders are aging and getting tired. We can see it in their faces, but they’re doing the best they can,” he added.

He shared his concerns about the scant consideration given to the Black community.

“Black men are the last considered when it comes to everything — funding in general,” Carr said.

Retired Statesville firefighter Seifullah El Amin also spoke, sharing the importance of being involved. He participated in Statesville’s first Juneteenth event back in 1995 and recalls it fondly.

“We went down Wilson Lee Boulevard to Alex Cooper Park,” El Amin said. “We had speakers and the whole nine yards.”

On Saturday, he smiled while watching Mayor Costi Kutteh officially recognized the Juneteenth holiday and its significance.

“This historic day signifies the end of slavery in the U.S. It’s a day of reflection,” he said. “It values our shared history … We need to continue working together to encourage a community rooted in equality and shared hope.”

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