After social media debate, Louisville Juneteenth Festival returns to its original name

A rebranding of one of Louisville’s coveted Juneteenth celebrations sparked a social media debate after organizers posted a save the date this week.

A flyer was spread across social media with the name “Louteenth” and noted it was the “Formerly Louisville Juneteenth Festival” which did not sit right with some people who follow the event. Though people defended the festival and its organizers, others did not welcome its new name.

"The renaming of the event was driven by a desire to celebrate and honor the unique cultural heritage and identity of our community," Aaron Jordan, the founder and producer of the Louisville Juneteenth Festival, said in a statement on Facebook.

"In response to the feedback from our community, we have decided to revert the name of the event back to its original title, the Louisville Juneteenth Festival."

A social media user by the name of Aprile Hearn came in defense of the event and its organizers, noting that the event still is for and by the Black community.

“The name change was only an attempt to give Louisville its own Juneteenth celebration recognizing all of our own creatively gifted individuals, dynamic business owners, powerful community leaders and some of the most amazing residents that this country can find!,” Hearn said on Facebook.

“Louteenth is merging the culture of Black Louisville and the history of Juneteenth together and it’s BRILLIANT in my eyes!”

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This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville Juneteenth Festival: Name change sparks social media debate