Columbus” annual Sandfield Eighth of May celebration is about preserving history and keeping tradition alive, say event organizers.
Hundreds of people attended the 10th annual Eighth of May Emancipation Day celebration — held Friday and Saturday near the intersection of 24th Street and Fourth Avenue South — enjoying a variety of food, live musical performances and inflatable games for kids, among other things.
During a break in the festivities Saturday, organizers of the free event explained the meaning behind the celebration.
The event commemorates May 8, 1865, the day federal troops rode into Columbus to announce the abolishment of slavery.
A year after the announcement, Columbus residents celebrated the city”s first Eighth of May celebration, with an “Eight ”O May” luncheon, which still continues and was held Friday at St. Paul”s Episcopal Church.
The Sandfield event is a separate celebration, which was begun 10 years ago, by Martha Gordon”s son, Michael Farmer.
“He had a dream to bring back the Emancipation Proclamation celebration,” Gordon said. “It was started to keep things alive in Columbus. It”s a show of love toward one another and (an opportunity) to come out and fellowship, just like it was a long time ago, when the Emancipation Proclamation came out.”
Glenda Perry, of Macon, Ga., has worked with Gordon since the Sandfield event”s beginning.
“It”s a time when we can celebrate our past, from where we came,” she said, noting the celebration is a good way to help the community. “We just discuss it, just talk about it. I think some kids know (the history), but I think we need to work harder at teaching more kids.”
“The Eighth of May is Independence Day for black people,” said Oswald Stephenson. “A lot of kids don”t realize it, but we”re trying to keep tradition going. It”s like black history, I guess.
“We”re trying to get all the kids together,” he added. “A lot don”t know (each other). Here, they can see all the old people getting along, neighbors. Maybe it will rub off on some of them.”
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