THE OFFICIAL WEB SITE OF THE MADISON TIMES WEEKLY NEWSPAPER 

“We are the potential tone setters of the world, and we can do anything we want to do.”

— Betty Franklin-Hammonds

August 4, 1995

That was some weather that whipped through here last night. It knocked out the power at our office for about 45 minutes. It ends up we were pretty lucky compared to some other areas, including South Madison, that had trees and power lines blown down. Thank goodness no one was severely hurt or killed.

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The Juneteenth celebration held in Penn Park on June 19 sure was a success. The grounds were packed with people for most of the afternoon. The weather was perfect. The crowds were great and the entertainment was outstanding. There was something for everyone of all ages to do all afternoon. Madison has more talent than it knows what to do with.

What keeps Juneteenth special is the nice blend of education and entertainment that the organizers achieve. Little of it is preachy. Most of it is very informative. Juneteenth is a wonderful vehicle to hand down African American culture and history from one generation to another. I know I learn something new every year. The organizers do stay true to their vision.

It was also great to see Geraldine Bernard and Eugene Parks recognized this year. Both of them were pioneers. Bernard was the first African American female teacher employed by Madison public schools. Parks was the first African American elected to public office in Madison when he was elected alderperson back in the late 1960s. Parks, in particular, paid a heavy price to practice his freedom of speech.

It was also important that Project Ujima was recognized. Ujima was one of the first - if not the first - culturally sensitive therapeutic programs in Dane County. It has now fallen on some hard times when it received some severe cuts by Dane County. It has helped many an African American family. Hopefully, this recognition will also attract more financial backing to it.

The co-organizers of Juneteenth sure do deserve a lot of credit. Mona Adams Winston and Annie Weatherby have been with Juneteenth from the start. Rev. Alex Gee became involved after the Nehemiah Community Development Corporation became Juneteenth's fiscal agent. While Juneteenth is a labor of love to them, it is still a lot of hard work that needs their attention for a good portion of the year. These are some hands-on leaders. After Juneteenth was over and I'm sure they wanted to kick off their shoes and put their feet up, Mona, Annie, and Rev. Alex were still out there picking up trash and putting stuff away. They weren't out there giving orders; they were out there doing the work. These are some hard working folks.

They and all of the volunteers deserve our undying gratitude. It is because of their dedication and hard work that families from throughout the Madison area can experience the best that African American culture has to offer. It is a high quality event that is very affordable for youth and families.

Madison should count its blessings. Thank you Mona, Annie, and Rev. Alex.

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On the other end of the spectrum is Race Unity Day sponsored by the Madison Bahá'í faith community. With little more than a sound system, it turns the State Capitol steps at State Street into an international stage. This annual Sunday afternoon in June is real easy going. There is a wonderful air of cooperation and people just come and go as they please. Dance from almost every continent on earth is represented. The performances are spectacular and the audience is appreciative.

The Race Unity Rally is a nice way to begin summer. It reminds us we have more in common than we sometimes realize and allows us to appreciate the wonderful and beautiful things that make us different. Thank you Madison Bahá'ís for sponsoring this event and putting in all the hard work so that we can enjoy a lazy and meaningful summer afternoon. Money can't buy the understanding this afternoon promotes.

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