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Celebrating Columbia's African American Heritage - The 2008 Jubilee Festival

August 23, 2008

What a treat to attend and participate in the Historic Columbia Foundation's (HCF) 30th annual Jubilee Festival.

This weekend event, which commemorates African American heritage in our community, has traditionally been held in late August at the corner of Richland and Marion streets at the historic Mann-Simon's Cottage, one of the few surviving residences of antebellum free persons of color in the country. This year the festival was extended down Marion street to include the residence of legendary civil rights leader Modjeska Simkins, a home that City Council recently assigned to the HCF to maintain and interpret as one of our city's historic house museums.

Jubilee 2008 kicked off with a moving dinner that recognized and honored the "30 Most Significant African Americans in Columbia and Richland County". The roster of honorees spanned the historical experience of African Americans in our community and highlighted the accomplishments of an exceptional group of individuals who charted paths that have led us to our modern city. Among the thirty selected were District 3 residents Fannie Phelps Adams, the celebrated educator; Luther J. Battiste, attorney and former member of Columbia City Council; Larry Lebby, artist and arts advocate; and the late Grace Jordan McFadden, the noted USC scholar. I had the honor of serving on a panel discussion program during the weekend that explored the significance of the "30" on our community.
 

As a former president of the Historic Columbia Foundation, I know first hand of the great work of this organization in preserving our unique history and traditions. Its mission, to build a "sense of place" for all in our community, roots us in a common urban past that makes us a distinctive 21st century city. For more information on the Foundation's mission and program, visit www.historiccolumbia.org.