By: Cora Newcomb, Board Member of Stone Soup Storytelling, and Karyn Page-Davies, President/Director of Stone Soup Storytelling
If you missed it, you missed a lot!
An absolutely amazing, unique, and incredibly delightful celebration of the first Juneteenth celebration happened in downtown Woodruff on June 24 and 25 at Muse 134. The event was hosted, sponsored, and produced by the Stone Soup Storytelling Institute (a 501c3) located inside MUSE 134 at 134 S. Main Street, Woodruff.
As part of the celebration, the Woodruff Mayor, Kenneth Gist, officially proclaimed June 25, 2022, as Juneteenth in The “Ruff, in the City of Woodruff. The proclamation further stated: The celebration is infused with tremendous potential to bridge cultures and create possible interaction across racial, social, and residential divides in ways never before attempted or even thought possible on Main Street Woodruff.” Mayor Gist welcomed folks and celebrated with us throughout the weekend.
This was a celebration of culture and community!
We met new friends, ate good food, fed over 150 folks on Saturday, told some stories, learned a lot of history, danced on the sidewalks, listened to great music while we painted, and played old-timey board games. One of those games was the card game Bid Whist! This game included a competition and tournament. The Stone Soup Storytelling Institute’s partners, collaborators, and supporters include the Bid Whist Society of South Carolina founder, Marshall Stephens. Bid Whist is a lively partnership trick-taking game that is very popular among African-American communities. Juneteenth In The “Ruff Bid Whist Tournament is the first-ever Bid Whist Tournament in the State of South Carolina. Greenville, South Carolina State Representative Leola Robinson-Simpson delivered a proclamation passed by the South Carolina General Assembly designating Woodruff as the home of The Bid Whist Tournament of South Carolina.
The Juneteenth weekend included: Music and live sidewalk Art by Jeff Wilkins aka WYLDAMERICA, Stories, and History by Professor Nancy Tolson, The Sidewalk Slide — dancing led by the Bee Hive Creative Dance Team, African American History and Stories by Damon L. Fordham, presentation by Marilyn Hemingway the Founder and Director of the Geechee Chamber of Commerce who shared stories about Gullah-Geechee culture and the Gullah-Geechee Seafood Trail. The audience provided many questions and comments for the performers, speakers, and artists!
Thanks to everyone who donated their time, talent, and efforts! You know who you are.
The event was funded in part by the Chapman Cultural Center and The Stone Soup Storytelling Institute of Woodruff and was co-produced by the Bid Whist Society of South Carolina and The Stone Soup Storytelling Institute.
For more information about Stone Soup Storytelling Institute and all the programs that happen at 134 South Main Street in Woodruff, SC, go to stonesoupsc.org or our Facebook page, Stone Soup Storytelling, and drop by and say hello.
Author: Tracy Sanders
