A Juneteenth Family Celebration

On June 26th I was invited to attend a Juneteenth Celebration in Lexington, KY. Hosted by the African American Ballet Troupe and featuring First Person Historical Interpreter Elizabeth Lawson. Ms. Lawson portrayed three different slaves in small vignettes. They were Dolly - the first enslaved women who came to Fort Boonesborough with Daniel Boone and the axemen. Her next portrayal was of "Patsy" a conductor on the Underground Railroad who helped hundreds reach freedom in the north and finally Charlotte Dupuy, enslaved by famed Kentuckian Henry Clay. Dupuy sued Clay for her freedom and after a long legal battle finally won. These performances were interspersed with the dancers, singers, musicians, a poet and African Drummers.