TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)– Dozens of residents in Terre Haute gathered at the Vigo County History Center for an event to celebrate locations with ties to African-American history on Wednesday.
It was the third straight year the museum put on a program on the Juneteenth holiday alongside local historian Dr. Crystal Reynolds. This one featured over a dozen different places and several speakers as well.
Peggy Joyner also helped bring this event together– and she said she was happy to see the community support.
“I am so impressed with the crowd,” she said. “I’m so happy that everybody came out to see the banners, a lot of research and hard work was put into providing the correct information, so we’re excited for the presentation.”
One of the speakers was Samuel Reyes spoke about the National Tailors Company, owned by Demetrius Ewing in the 1950’s.
He said he enjoyed being involved in this program, and he wanted to spread a message of the importance in acknowledging the hardships of previous generations, and what they overcame.
“I learned that all the hate that has occurred didn’t happen that long ago,” Reyes said. “We can learn to celebrate it the trials we overcame. We can make something positive out of the negative that our ancestors had to endure.”
Reyes said he hopes events like this can become a tradition on the holiday, in the Wabash Valley and beyond.
“I definitely believe this will expand, not only in Terre Haute, not only in the state of Indiana, but throughout the country,” he said. “It’s essential to learn our history throughout the years.”
