PRICHARD Ala. (WALA) People of Prichard came together the night of Wednesday June 19 to honor a piece of African American history. It was the start of Juneteenth 2013 a look back at the Union soldiers entering Galveston Texas declaring the end of the Civil War and the liberation of all slaves.
It's exciting because it's a historical event and it celebrates those persons in Texas finding out that they had truly been emancipated and were no longer slaves but freed men said honoree Ruth E. Collins.
They honor their perseverance during trying times a bittersweet holiday.
Mayor Troy Ephriam doesn't only look at Juneteenth as a second Independence Day for African Americans but as a chance to look within to change and grow for the better by rallying around an emotional and historic celebration.
Who are we as a people Who are we as a community And why we should continue to strive to do the things that are necessary to bind ourselves up stay unified continue to work together to resolve our community issues continue to resolve our governmental issues our political issues continue to reach out to one another and stand unified around that purpose and that meaning of who we are as a community Ephriam said.
Former Prichard mayor A.J. Cooper was an honored speaker. He too rallies around Ephriam's idea and preached a message of change.
Prichard has fallen upon tough times but we're tough people Cooper said. And what Prichard needs is industry a tax base.
Cooper was disheartened when his city lost Scott Paper Company to Mobile. Along with it 70 80 percent of Prichard's would be tax base.
It has been a struggle since then Cooper said. Governors have put industry all around the state but Prichard has a land area the size of city of Manhattan and we need to have businesses factories industries brought here.
This is our commemoration to stay unified along the one thing that we believe in that we are a city we are strong viable we have a history we have a past and it's a good past and it's worth celebrating each and every day going forward Ephriam said.
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