CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Clarksville marked its 5th annual Juneteenth Parade on Thursday, with a celebration hosted by Manifest Magic Black Girl Cooperative. The event brought many together to honor the historic day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans were emancipated in the United States.
The parade started on Commerce Street and ended at the Burt-Cobb Recreation Center. Spectators lined the sidewalks to watch the parade, which featured dance teams, marching bands, colorful floats, and more. Local vendors set up along the parade route. A community health and wellness zone was set up at Fifth Ward Missionary Baptist Church, offering on-site healthcare services and blood donations.
“It’s an opportunity for the community to come together and commemorate Black history, which is American history,” said Juanita Charles, founder of Manifest Magic Black Girl Cooperative. “It’s a chance to celebrate culture, engage with the community in a way that we don’t always get to…