The Bethlehem Center celebrates Juneteenth with fourth annual Jubilee
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Bethlehem Center hosted the fourth annual Southside Juneteenth Jubilee this Saturday. The event had a variety of food trucks, live music, and an educational session on why Juneteenth is celebrated.
“We started the process to make sure we can educate our children about Juneteenth, but also wanted to make sure we do something for the community, everybody from every background needed to come together and have a good time and celebrate independence in our country in a different way,” said Executive Director of the Bethlehem Center, Reggie Smith.
Reggie Smith has learned from previous jubilees on how to connect with the community while also being educational to not only the youth but for all people that attend the Jubilee.
“It’s not to always just throw information in the community, hoping they absorb it all, but it’s also an opportunity for the community to come in and tell us what they like or tell us what they don’t like,” said Reggie.
Although Juneteenth has been celebrated across the United States since 1865, its purpose has become more widespread since the Civil Rights Movement, serving as a platform for promoting diversity and educating about the sacrifices and challenges enslaved Americans went through in their struggle for freedom.
