Juneteenth is this Friday, and celebrations are underway across Indianapolis.
One kick-off event was the 5th Annual Juneteenth Foodways Festival at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site. This year's festival was in honor of Dolly Johnson, an emancipated slave who later became a chef and caterer for the Harrison and Grover Cleveland administration, bringing Kentucky bluegrass cuisine to the White House.
Debbie Butler, owner of Debbie Kakes & More, honored Johnson's legacy by handing out free samples of Johnson's pecan cake. She said she has "nothing but praise" for the chef.
"I love to cook, I love baking, and then to see someone in the position that she was in, being that chef and [working] for a president, that there is something that someone would not get that easy," Butler said.
Butler said celebrating Juneteenth helps create moments for her and her family.
"Well, for one, it actually helps me to remember and bring back the history," Butler said, "and then being able to share that history with my grandkids and my nieces and my nephews, because some of this they have not even seen."
Stephanie Gibson, co-owner of Gip Got Tips, served barbecue next to Butler's tent. Gibson said she's been a vendor at the event since it started.
"They've asked us to come back each year, and each year it gets bigger and better," Gibson said.
Gip Got Tips is catering multiple Juneteenth events, including the Indy Juneteenth Festival at Indiana State Fairgrounds and Madam Walker Legacy Center's Legacy Fest.
"It means family, friends, us getting together as a community and just celebrating, just celebrating what this day is all about," Gibson said.
Ruby Proctor, owner of Rooted with Ruby, sold plants at the Foodways Festival and promoted the wellness plants can bring.
"It is literally a beautiful, black, joyful day seeing everyone love on each other, hug and support one another and bring people out," Proctor said. "And it literally just be a fun time, a good time and smiles and hugs and love."
Proctor said she's going to the Indiana State Museum for its Juneteenth event.
"It means a lot to me that these spaces are being curated and welcomed more, just because there are a lot of times where we aren't comfortable in all spaces," she said.
Another Juneteenth event, called Juneteenth: A Celebration of Connection, will be held in the Eiteljorg Museum on Friday. And the Indy Juneteenth parade returns this year, kicking off Saturday at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on 42nd Street. Last year's parade was put on hold after Indy Juneteenth said it was unable to secure a location.
Contact Reporter Daniel Huber at dhuber@wfyi.org
