February is Black History Month and our community kicked it off with two phenomenal events.
The first was Celebrating the Trailblazers of Black Excellence which occurred on February 1, and the second was The Untold Yet Unforgotten Stories of Black History, held on February 3.
Both events were hosted by Jon Paul Martin from Whiskey and Wiles. They recognized many Clark County and Kentucky African American trailblazers, and it was a beautiful way to do so.
The first event started with an opening prayer and everyone attending sang Lift Every Voice and Sing together.
It was amazing to see everyone come together in that way again after last month’s MLK Unity event.
The song itself is a beautiful symbol of togetherness, and now that I know more about it, I appreciate it much more.
Afterward, each banner was introduced and accepted by many of the living recipients and family members. There was a wide range of careers and achievements recognized, from past superintendents to doctors.
There is no doubt that those who came before us worked extremely hard for their accomplishments and I am proud to be a part of a community that celebrates them.
They were presented with so much pride and gratitude and it really showed how much everyone cared.
The event was attended by more than just the honorees, however.
Many people from our community showed up to honor and celebrate those who paved the way for future generations.
The fact that this relatively small event meant so much to everyone is what made it a big deal.
The sense of community and solidarity was incredibly present all throughout the ceremony, and it has stuck with me ever since.
The presentations were followed with lunch and much conversing. I loved getting to talk to people more about our city’s history and those involved.
It was nice getting to come together again and just celebrate those who dedicated their lives to the betterment of our community and learning more about how they did it.
I feel as though some cities try to paint over their history with new accomplishments and I really appreciate Winchester’s effort to make sure we are informed and knowledgeable of those before us to help us achieve our own goals and aspirations.
The second event, The Untold Yet Unforgotten Stories of Black History, was incredibly unique.
This event was sponsored and organized by the All Voices Reading Room and was also hosted by Whiskey and Wiles downtown.
During this event, Mr. Shea Brown and Dr. Vanessa Holden presented a project they have been working on since the midst of the pandemic.
Brown works at the Fayette County Clerk’s Office as a Special Projects Deputy in the Land Records Department. He is also the Supervising Director of the Digital Access Project (DAP), which has got to be one of the coolest things I’ve ever heard about.
Dr. Holden is an Associate Professor of History and African American studies at the University of Kentucky, as well as the Director of the Central Kentucky Slavery Initiative.
Brown and Holden, as well as many students from the University of Kentucky, retirees, and volunteers, have been working hard to digitize records with a bookeye scanner, including deeds, wills, burnt records, county court orders, etc.
This is amazing because we get to learn things about people from as far as the mid 1800s.
While this is very helpful for those who need access to these records for their professions, it’s also a great way to teach about black history.
They taught the crowd about William Tucker, a man who was enslaved by George Trotter, emancipated in 1815, and returned home to emancipate his own family.
He was a man who learned the law so he could work around it to set his family free. While his story was in most ways heartbreaking, it’s also inspiring.
I didn’t know I could be inspired by a man who hasn’t been around since the 1800s, but he is a great example of determination. All odds were against him, but he worked hard and outsmarted the system to keep his family together.
The hard work everyone involved has put into the project will be appreciated for years to come.
It’s so beneficial to students who need easy access to research, doctors who may be trying to research past medical records, lawyers, teachers, and anyone who may be trying to find out more about their own history.
With these bookeye scanners, people will be able to search for records and zoom in to the finest details without the letters going blurry
I didn’t know such a thing existed, and I didn’t completely understand the importance of digitizing these records. But Brown and Dr. Holden, as well as everyone who helped organize the event, work very hard to teach everyone of its importance.
Our city has done a phenomenal job of setting up events like this, and it’s a fantastic way to come together and celebrate.
These functions weren’t unlike the Martin Luther King Day Celebration, and I think attending them has taught me many amazing things.
I’ve always been one to try to be involved with our town, but I’ve realized it’s more than just going to the festivals and parades.
I want to attend more of these sentimental ceremonies, big or small, and I encourage everyone else to do so as well.
They teach you so much, and I think getting more involved will strengthen Clark County as a whole.
Thank you to everyone who dedicated their time to make the events as smooth running as possible and those who contributed to them. They were amazing and I hope to see more like them.
Be sure to look for the banners downtown and take a second to remember and honor those names and faces on them. Their hard work and dedication is worthy of recognition and gratitude.
If it weren’t for them, we may not have evolved as much in our town, and we owe them all of our appreciation.
Try to look into the Digital Access Project as well, you may find some really cool things. It’s a non-profit project, so any support helps them out.
Keep up with more events like these; I promise you won’t regret it.
