April 15, 2015
A celebration of freedom Recipes
Homemade Sauces
Around Town
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Suited for Success
Photo courtesy Michaela Kornblum Participants dress in period clothing for a previous Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing Celebration. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the end of slavery in the United States, and the Mary Meachum Committee will celebrate with The Great Jubilation event on May 9.
Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing commemorates 150th anniversary of the end of slavery
Feature Section Real Estate Guide
By Sara Hardin This year marks the 150th anniversary of the end of slavery in the United States, and the Mary Meachum Committee invites you to celebrate with them at The Great Jubilation event on May 9. The event will be held at the Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., and will feature historical reenactments and place participants in Civil War era St. Louis. “Interviewers would ask ex-slaves if they remembered when they were told that they were free, and it comes up several times: it was a day of jubilation. That’s really where the name comes from,” explained Event Director Angela da Silva. Aside from exciting reenactments, the free event will offer music, games, historical showcases, and the chance to meet historical figures such as Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. “It’s a short day, but it’s an actionpacked day,” said Silva. “There are so many surprises for the public that you are just not going to believe. The reenactment community is planning to turn out and we will be creating the typical scenes that you would have seen in St. Louis in 1865. There will be cavalry units, soldiers in uniform and much more for attendees to look forward to.” The Mary Meachum Freedom Cross-
ing commemorates an Underground Railroad event in which African American slaves in Missouri attempted a daring escape across the Mississippi River to freedom in Illinois. Mary Meachum, a free woman of color and widow of a prominent black clergyman, accompanied the group. A $500 scholarship will also be awarded during the event to celebrate the making of history. Students pursuing a degree in history were able to submit an essay and apply for the scholarship. “The story of Mary Meachum has always been mesmerizing to me, and I look forward to celebrating both the 150th anniversary, as well as a bright young student,” said Alderman Flowers, who will be awarding the scholarship during the event program at 3:30 p.m. Lincoln University, the historically black university located in Jefferson City, will also be honored at the event. The school was founded by contributions made by the Black 62nd and 65th regiments organized at Benton Barracks, located on what is now known as Fairgrounds Park. The event will also host a church choir contest, where local church choirs can compete for a $500 prize for first place, $400 for second, or $300 for third. Church choirs that can show up
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the day of the event, sing at least three traditional spirituals and have at least 20 members on site are eligible. For more information, interested choirs should notify Silva as soon as possible by calling her at 314-865-0708. It is clear that this is an event that should not be missed, as it provides a rare opportunity to be immersed within the environment surrounding the abolishment of slavery at the end of the Civil See FREEDOM page 2
School
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Olympian presents scholarship
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