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On Wednesday, Jan. 1, the annual Emancipation Proclamation Observance ceremony was held at the Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., which was presented by Selma-Dallas County Emancipation Proclamation Committee.

The historic event commemorated the 162nd anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, that took place on Jan. 1, 1863, by President Abraham Lincoln, which it declared “that all persons held as slaves” within the rebellious states “are, and henceforward shall be free,” which led the local committee to make the continuous effort to tell, show and educate the public on such a historic piece of history each year.

The theme catered to the event this year was “African Americans and Labor,” geared towards the enlightenment of African Americans locally and their good works within the community.

The program was led first by a hymn called the National Negro, which was performed with the audience being able to sing along. As for the program’s invocation, the committee had the Mayor of Selma and Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church’s Pastor the Rev. James Perkins Jr. and Dr. Verell Lett Dawson as the overseer of the program’s litany section.

Lastly, Deacon Herman Smith of the EMB church did the program’s welcome and greetings, and as for the music for the event, it was carried out by the Ebenezer Baptist Church Choir.

The program also featured several members of the community from local businesses, to the kids within the community throughout all school systems, who took a stand, being in leadership roles during the event.

“We highlighted black businesses in the City of Selma,” said Cindy Owens, President of The Selma-Dallas County Emancipation Proclamation Committee. “Black businesses and black business owners and is it very important that we do that so we can shop and keep our black owners in business.”

Owens said during the event, 27 business owners were featured and given awards for their exemplary efforts in the community and said each business owner selected fits in a specific category, showcasing their efforts but also their business niche.

“We had various categories that those chosen fit in,” Owens said. “From hospitality, entertainment, mortuary science including many other sectors that showcased their niche.”

Owens even mentioned a business owner that never received an award before and in doing so, she said he was just so emotional behind his electrical cleaning business being honored that she said the moment brought tears to her eyes as well.

“I think it’s a great thing to also involve our students in our community events,” said Owens. “For instance, a young man that I had from Keith High School yesterday, as we were on our way home, he was very elated and we did a little skit that had some factual history, and he kept repeating it, so it’s a great thing when we involve our children. They need to know our story. They need to know the truth.”

Owens said she felt the event was a great way to showcase the students, saying that they are very brilliant and very bright.

Like Owens, Althelstein Johnson, who is the committee’s secretary said she was encouraged and inspired, seeing the kids participate in the program and said the skit done by three young men of Keith High School, Sean Gabriel Litt, Cassidi Young and Mosezel Williams, called Dr. Martin Luther King, emphasized the importance of the Emancipation Proclamation, that was signed to declare those enslaved, free back then.

Johnson said three things, she wants people in the community to take away from Wednesday’s event is that each year, remember to commemorate the signing of the emancipation proclamation, and understand how significant that was for our black community and because of the theme this year, she said she want them to know more about the black business owners in the community and to support them as well.

“And the youth this year, were given an opportunity through the program to see mentors whom I hope they can use one day in their business roles as they get older,” Johnson said.

If any community members would like to know more about the Emancipation Proclamation and the committee’s involvement, contact Owens at 334-327-5938.