Juneteenth enthusiasm spreading

ST. PETERSBURG -- It was nearly a quarter of a century ago that Jeanie Blue came down with a bad case of Juneteenth fever. And for roughly half that time, the 44-year-old mother of three has been working around the clock to infect the rest of the Tampa Bay area with the early summer holiday bug.

She discovered the nation's oldest celebration of African-American heritage in Houston, Texas, when she moved there in 1979.

Blue said she thrilled at the sight of hundreds of families picnicking and children playing together in honor of June 19, 1865, the day word of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation reached African-American slaves in Galveston, Texas. "It was like a monthlong season there. Everybody is just Juneteenthed out," she said.

When she moved back to her native St. Petersburg, Blue became active in the movement to make the day an official state holiday.

The work paid off in October 1991 when then-Gov. Lawton Chiles signed legislation making June 19 an official holiday in Florida.

A decade later, Blue's continued enthusiasm and the efforts of 100 community volunteers form the backbone of the 11th Annual Juneteenth of Tampa Bay Festivities in St. Petersburg's Campbell Park, 601 14th St. S.

The celebration, which starts in the park today at 10 a.m. and continues until 8 p.m., will feature dozens of gospel, rhythm and blues, hip-hop and jazz groups. Thousands are expected to gather in the park to take in the sights and sounds of performances by groups including Jazz Summit, No Kin and the Imani African Dance Troupe.

Local rap artist Dana Harrington, known as "Short Fuse," said he can hardly wait. His five-member hip-hop ensemble, South House Representatives, plan to play tracks from their new CD.

Today's event in the park also includes a fashion show by menswear designer Harold Pinter, food from dozens of local vendors, face painting, arts and crafts for children, and CD-ROM exhibits of the USF-sponsored Olive B. McLin Community History Project.

Hundreds are also expected to show up for a second day of festivities when the Genesis Worship Center, 1818 29th Ave. N, holds its Juneteenth Gospel Extravaganza at 5 p.m. Sunday.

The celebration continues Wednesday, with a Candlelight Vigil in Straub Park, Fifth Avenue NE and Bayshore Drive, in rememberance of those forced to leave Africa for slavery in America.

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