A community in Huntersville, North Carolina is outraged after an event scheduled to be held on a plantation on Juneteenth, the day that commemorates the end of slavery in the US, turns out to be an occasion to honor white slave masters.
“White refugees have been displaced and have a story to tell as well,” the Historic Latta Plantation event stated in its description, according to Blavity.
The event’s social media page, which is now deleted, also stated that guests would “hear stories from the Massa himself who is now living in the woods.”
Ryan Pitkin, a journalist in Charlotte, North Carolina, shared screenshots of the now-deleted event page.
“Confederate soldiers who will be heading home express their feelings about the downfall of the Confederacy,” the organizers stated.
This morning Latta Plantation removed this Juneteenth event from their online calendar and Facebook page after FB commenters let them know just how awful of an idea it was. pic.twitter.com/8pj8OyuyCr
— Ryan Pitkin (@pitkin_ryan) June 11, 2021
In a statement on Twitter on Friday, Mecklenburg County officials said they weren’t aware of the event.
Here is a statement from @MeckCounty, which funds programming at Latta Plantation. pic.twitter.com/nXB7Utttp2
— Ryan Pitkin (@pitkin_ryan) June 11, 2021
According to Pitkin, Huntersville issued a statement, saying “funding for Latta Plantation in the next fiscal year will be put on hold pending further investigation.”
A large number of outraged residents in Huntersville swarmed social media to express their anger, forcing organizers to cancel the Juneteenth event and pointed to other similar instances of racism happening around the country.
What in THEE fuck
— Tressie McMillan Cottom (@tressiemcphd) June 11, 2021
they do this in schools too. my daughters school in TX assigned a “slavery computer game” where students “role played” and had to make daily choices as enslaved folxs. “wake up in the morning… choice a) run or b) go start my chores for massa”?
— ??♀️Fairy Black Mother??♂️ (@_DrMitch) June 11, 2021
Was it called Freedom? There was a game I played on the old Apples in like 1992 that was just like that. As a kid, I liked it, but I just googled some screenshots and…whew. pic.twitter.com/hf9M1ZrjSX
— Hambre 3000 (@3randn) June 11, 2021
They still have these appalling summer camps on their website …: https://t.co/PPgXQPj4zq
— Julie Hardwick (@DrJulieHardwick) June 11, 2021
Related Story: Texan Students Held an Online Slave Auction for Black Classmates
Residents shared their disappointment and anger with the event:
“It hurt. We understand the history of what Juneteenth is, is something that we now celebrate, but also it’s rooted in pain,” resident Hannah Hasan told WCNC.
“A terrible example of white supremacy,” Huntersville resident Monica Raab told WCNC. “I was lost for words that someone would think this is a good idea.”
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles posted on Twitter to condemn the event. Lyles also reflected on the purpose of Juneteenth.
On June 19, 1865, known as Juneteenth, 250,000 enslaved Black people were declared free be executive decree. That day should be celebrated and honored in the most humble way possible, with laser focus on the perspective of the inhumane treatment of an enslaved people.
— Mayor Vi Lyles (@CLTMayor) June 12, 2021
The historic site manager, Ian Campbell, who is Black, responded to the outrage by posting a 1,348-word statement defending the Juneteenth program as educational about Reconstruction.
“To the masses on social media and politicians, no apology will be given for bringing a unique program to educate the public about former slaves becoming FREE!”
After the backlash on social media, the event has been canceled.
