Juneteenth is right around the corner, and Guthrie organizers are preparing to celebrate the holiday with a celebration that is built towards all members of the community.
Tracy Roper and her cousin Constance Scott are serving as the organizers of the Guthrie Juneteenth Celebration, which begins at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 15 in Mineral Wells Park. The celebration will feature food trucks, a live DJ, merchandise vendors, moon bounce and live entertainment from the Family Spirituals group. Kicking off the event will be a 5k run/walk, which those who wish to participate in the run can register on site beginning at 8:30 a.m.
“It’s basically like a big picnic,” Roper said.
Also part of the celebration will be the recognition of officer J.W. Williams and retired fireman Wesley Whitehorn. Both are being honored at the celebration for their services made to Guthrie in their respective roles.
“Officer Williams has done a lot for the community,” Roper said. “He’s saved lives. He’s been the school resource officer. He’s just always been there for the community and we wanted to honor that.
“We also chose Wesley Whitehorn because he was the third Black fireman in Guthrie, and he gave his all to the community. Even though he is retired now, he still gives his all to the community in any way that he can.”
The overarching theme of this year’s celebration is “Their Wildest Dreams.” For Roper, that theme not only honors ancestors who came before her, but also strides that she hopes the community can make. “We, this generation, are our ancestors’ wildest dreams,” Roper said. “ We’re trying to do things that our ancestors couldn’t do and we’re trying to bring everyone together. This event is for blacks, for whites, for hispanics. It’s for everybody.
“We want it to be one big community. We don’t want people to be separated and off doing their own thing. We want Guthrie to be one flourishing community that can thrive.”
Roper hopes that Guthrie citizens take away from this event that she and the other organizers are here and they are proud of their Guthrie heritage. This community is home to her, and she wants others to know that.
“We want people to know that we are here for our community,” Roper said. “We are Guthrie. We are here to do whatever we can to help this town.”