Anyone who will be in Indianapolis on the first day of 2016 can bring in the New Year with truth and power.
Many local residents and guests are expected to attend the annual Emancipation Day Celebration Jan. 1 at 10 a.m. at Christ Missionary Baptist Church, 1001 Eugene St.
Guests will be able to enjoy praise music, a refreshing discussion about solutions to community issues and a special message from an electrifying guest speaker.
This year’s theme is “Three Wise Men,” because the event is dedicated to the memory of three popular community leaders who passed away within the past year. They include entrepreneur and civic leader William “Bill” Mays, legislator William “Bill” Crawford and popular radio host and journalist Amos Brown.
All three had a major impact on growth in the African-American community in particular and the city at large.
“This community blossomed from the seeds they planted,” said Rev. Melvin Girton, former pastor of Christ Missionary Baptist Church and main organizer of the Indianapolis Emancipation Day Celebration.
Another important part of the upcoming service is it will honor the accomplishments of several African-American women from different career fields.
“Bill Mays, Bill Crawford and Amos Brown were not only good role models for men, they also helped inspire many women in our community to aim high for success,” Girton said.
Emancipation Celebrations have been held on Jan. 1 in cities across the country since 1863, when the Emancipation Proclamation was issued to end slavery and put African-Americans on the path to full United States citizenship.
Indianapolis has hosted its Emancipation Day Celebration since 1944 and has hosted a variety of guests over the years, such as Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Ralph Abernathy and Congressman Andre Carson, D-Ind. The featured speaker this year will be Nuri Muhammad, a community activist and the Minister of Muhammad Mosque #74 in Indianapolis.
Christian ministers usually speak at Emancipation Day services. However, Girton noted that featuring a speaker of another faith, such as Muhammad, will give the service an ecumenical, unifying focus that will send a strong message to the community that now is the time for everyone to join forces to address challenges such as crime and unemployment.
Organizers say it is important to also remember the Emancipation Day service is intended to help attendees remember the achievements of African-Americans since the end of the Civil War and discuss how the community can grow from those accomplishments as it steps into the future.
“We now have the first Black president and have come a long way,” said Rev. Ray Ware of Eastside Baptist Church, who is part of the coalition of ministers presenting the event. “This service is a powerful way for us to reflect on the success we have had and gaining more success.”
Other participating ministers, according to Girton, include Bishop Donald Golder of Temple of Praise Assembly, Philip Karl James of Mt. Zion Baptist Church and Rev. Curtis Vance of St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church.
“Everyone who joins will receive inspiration,” Ware added. “They will see how successful Black men and women are successful. They will be reminded that they (have) the potential for success and that they are somebody.”
For more information about this free event, contact event chairman, Rev. Melvin Girton at (317) 626-6378.
