Juneteenth celebrations back in full swing

Michael Bauer, Odessa American, Texas

June 11, 2022 at 12:47 AM·8 min read

Jun. 10—For the first time since the pandemic, the Black Cultural Council of Odessa's Juneteenth celebrations will be back to a full scale.

In 2020, the five-day celebration that consists of numerous different events, was canceled due to COVID.

Last year, the Juneteenth celebrations in Odessa returned to an in-person setting but with fewer events due to the pandemic.

This year, however, will be a return to normal as the Juneteenth events begin on June 15 and continue each day until June 19.

Long recognized as the largest Juneteenth celebration in the state of Texas, the multi-day event brings in guests and entertainers from across state lines.

Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans. Usually held annually on June 19, it wouldn't become a federally recognized holiday until just last year.

Juneteenth's commemoration is on the anniversary date of June 19, 1865 when the announcement of General Order No.3 by Union Army general Gordon Granger was made, proclaiming freedom of enslaved people in Texas.

This year's Juneteenth events in Odessa will range from a concert performance from a gospel singer to a parade, as well as basketball tournaments and a performance from the Dallas Black Theatre.

"Due to COVID, we've had to scale back our celebration last year," Black Cultural Council of Odessa President Jo Ann Davenport Littleton said. "But this is going to be the first year that we're going to have a full celebration since Juneteenth became a national holiday. As a board, we've tried to schedule events that are inclusive to everyone."

This year's celebrations will start with a concert performance by famous gospel singer Fred Hammond with doors opening at 6 p.m. June 15 at First Baptist Church.

"For us to be able to bring in a gospel recording artist as big as Fred Hammond, is huge," Littleton said. "We're excited. We're teaming up with First Baptist Church. We'll have a great time. Anyone in the field of gospel music knows how big Fred Hammond is. He's one of the grandfathers of gospel music. Just for us to secure him and bring him to Odessa, that's a mammoth accomplishment."

Littleton credited the FMH Foundation for helping bring in Hammond to perform in Odessa.

"If it wasn't for the FMH foundation believing in us, we couldn't be able to secure him," Littleton said. "But it was through a grant from the FMH foundation that helped us secure Hammond. They were helpful."

Littleton said that Hammond's performance should help kick off this year's Juneteenth celebration in a big way.

"Our goal is to pack out the worship center and have an overflow of people," Littleton said. "We've had great sponsors from all over the Permian Basin and they're excited to come out because they know the caliber of gospel singer Fred Hammond is. To start the celebration off with a Fred Hammond concert, that sets the tone. The gospel celebration will set the tone for the weekend."

The live concerts will continue throughout the week with Houston violinist Dominique Hammons performing June 16 at the All White Party which will be held at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Conference Center with doors opening at 9 p.m.

"He's one of the hottest artists in Houston," Littleton said of Hammons. "We were fortunate to get him to come to Odessa. A lot of people have been interested in coming. Because of the community believing in us, we're able to bring these types of events to the people of Odessa."

The LJ Echols Band will perform at 10 p.m. Friday at Woodson Community Park.

Jeter Jones will perform at 10 p.m. Saturday at Woodson Community Park and the Paul Cannon Band will perform at 9:30 p.m. Sunday at Woodson Community Park.

"He's huge in Mississippi, Louisiana and he has a big following," Littleton said. "Because of him, there's a lot of people that are wondering how we were able to get Jeter Jones to come. We do a lot of networking. We reach out to other artists. We do our homework and find out who's hot and what artists people want to hear."

Most of the events are free with the exception of the All White Party. Tickets for the All White Party are $25 per person and the dress code is white.

"We're glad to bring (the All White Party) back this year," Littleton said. "That's the only event that we'll charge."

In addition to Hammons, the All White Party will feature DJ Blue Boy and DJ Demetrius.

The Dallas Black Theatre will return for this year's Juneteenth with a performance at 7 p.m. Thursday at the OHS Performing Arts Center.

That event is a joint effort between the Black Cultural Council of Odessa and the Odessa Arts.

"The Dallas Black Theatre loves coming back to Odessa," Littleton said. "They always have a great time. People enjoy coming to see them. It's a good time."

The annual Juneteenth Pageants will take place from 6-8 p.m. Friday at the Blackshear Auditorium.

Numerous tournaments will also take place over the weekend.

The Danny R. Wright Basketball Tournament will take place on Friday and Saturday at Woodson Boys and Girls Club.

The Regina McKnight Volleyball Tournament will also take place on Friday and Saturday at Ector Fieldhouse.

The Legends Basketball Tournament will take place at 1 p.m. Sunday at Woodson Boys and Girls Club.

The week will also include Youth in the Park from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at Woodson Community Park.

This year's Juneteenth parade is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Saturday with the route running north on Dixie Blvd. to Murphy Street before turning right and go east on Murphy Street and end at Barrett Drive.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three floats in the parade with $300 for first, $200 for second and $100 for third.

Also taking place will be the Car and Bike Show which will be presented by Brotherhood Legends Car Club and will last from noon-6 p.m. Saturday at Woodson Community Park.

The Black Cultural Council of Odessa will also be honoring its hometown heroes Dorothy Nelms, Frizella Whitiker and Lee Ora Beck Redic during the ceremony at 9:30 p.m. Saturday at the Woodson Community Park on the main stage.

"There's a lot of wisdom and there's a lot of history there," Littleton said. "After our parade, we're going to honor them. There's over 300 years of history of wisdom there. It's a worthy cause. They're deserving of all the honors."

Saturday will also feature a historical marker dedication to honor Odessa's own famous doo-wop singing group The Velvets which is being put on by both the Odessa Heritage Foundation and the Black Cultural Council of Odessa. The ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. at Blackshear Auditorium.

Robert Thursby who is the last surviving member from the group is expected to be in attendance.

"The Velvets attended Blackshear so this is a huge celebration," Littleton said. "We're expecting a huge turnout for that event."

The Juneteenth Gospel Celebration will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday at Bethlehem Baptist Church and will feature gospel speaker Rev. Eddie Jenkins from Good Street Baptist Church in Dallas who's familiar with Odessa.

"We had Jenkins here before and he wanted to come back," Littleton said. "He was excited. But then the pandemic happened and we weren't able to bring him back. Now that we're back, he's excited about coming out this year."

If you go

— What: Black Cultural Council of Odessa Juneteenth Live Concerts.

— Who: Fred Hammond.

— When: Doors open 6 p.m. June 15.

— Where: First Baptist Church.

— Who: Jeter Jones.

— When: 10 p.m. June 18.