Many wonder why “blacks get their own day” or why it's necessary to even acknowledge the celebration in our community. Some feel that it's limited to only
one race of people. In spite of all the negative that has been said about the celebration, I assur ethe Russellville/Logan County Emancipation Celebration
is an event that we all can partake in.
If we did a little research on American independence, we would find that the United States was declared an independent county in1776. The Emancipation
Proclamation was adopted on January 1, 1863. However, African-Americans, who were born inside the country, were not even considered citizens until 1866,
almost 100 years after the U.S. independence and still three years after the Emancipation Proclamation. So we find that the declaration was not an instant
resolution to ending slavery in all states. With Kentucky being part of the Union, there was controversy and almost a rebellion against President Lincoln's
proposal. I could go on and on with the details, but to make a long story short, the slaves in Kentucky were not declared free until years later.
Just as our great country celebrates being a free country on the 4th of July, the decedents of Russellville/Logan County Kentucky's African-American
slaves, abolitionists, Quakers, and anyone else who was against slavery, celebrate being free from slavery on the 8thof August weekend, here in Kentucky.
The Emancipation Celebration Day is a day for us all to reflect on all those who fought, stood, and died for the right to be an equal citizen of the United
States of America. It's a time for family, friends, and neighbors; whites, blacks, Hispanics, and other races; young, old, and in between to come together
as one, and enjoy the beauty of unity and the joy of loving each other as American-born, red-blooded, God-fearing citizens without the strongholds of
racism that once divided us.
What better way to do that than having a homecoming celebration, sharing food, entertainment, sports and such right here in the heart of the place we call
home?
Angela McCarley is an alumnus of Logan County High School and Western Kentucky University.