Emancipation Saturday: An Appalachian Tradition

The International Storytelling Center (ISC), home to the world-renowned National Storytelling Festival and Storytelling Live! Teller-in-Residence series, will host a free digital event titled Emancipation Saturday: An Appalachian Tradition on Saturday, August 8^th, from 1-2:30 pm as part of the Freedom Stories project.

Freedom Stories is an ongoing series that illuminates the underappreciated and neglected stories of African Americans in Appalachian history and highlights the role that face-to-face storytelling has played in both African and Appalachian cultures. Through Freedom Stories digital events, the project marries performance and discussion, connecting prominent African American storytellers, artists, humanities scholars, and community experts to trace the rich history of African Americans in Appalachia—from the first African arrivals in Appalachia, to the shaping of a distinct culture, to the struggles for freedom and equality. The project will also produce multi-media resources that will be made accessible to a national audience.

As the nation becomes more familiar with the history of the Juneteenth celebration, the next digital discussion will focus on the history and stories of the lesser-known Appalachian Emancipation Saturday celebration. The distinguished panel will feature author and scholar Dr. Cicero Fain of the College of Southern Maryland; Black in Appalachia director William Isom II; and Jasmine Henderson, a spoken word artist and community organizer residing in Johnson City, Tennessee. The panel will be moderated by ISC Freedom Stories Project Director, Dr. Alicestyne Turley.

“Reflection upon Emancipation Saturday traditions requires an expansion of our current knowledge regarding Central Appalachia during the American Civil War and during Reconstruction politics,” says Turley. We are accustomed to discussing the role of other southern states, but we often overlook the fact that Tennessee supplied over 21,000 black men to fight in the Civil War, and elected 14 black men to serve as state representatives in the War’s aftermath—a political move unmatched in the region. Emancipation traditions have meaning and purpose. Exploring the “how” and “why” of these traditions is an important step in bringing unity and dialogue to our on-going conversations regarding our Appalachian past and improved Appalachian future.”

The live panel discussion will take place on August 8^th, from 1-2:30 pm EST on the International Storytelling Center’s Facebook timeline and will be followed by a public Q & A. The event will be recorded and made available to watch with closed-captioning post-event.

Kiran Singh Sirah, President of ISC, says these Freedom Stories discussions are important to the region in the context of the national movement of storytelling. “For example, how many of us know that in Appalachia, more people identify as African American than Scots-Irish?” asks Sirah. “The project is not meant to neglect or subdue the stories we do know, but rather to bring forward, in public conversation, the untold stories that contribute to the uniqueness and rich traditions of Appalachia. These stories are integral to the history of the region, and Appalachia (while often othered) is integral to the story of our entire nation.”

The project is funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Discussions Grant, an award based on projects that bring the ideas and insights of the humanities to life for general audiences. ISC would like to thank the following organizations for their support of the Freedom Stories Project: Appalachian African American Cultural Center, Black in Appalachia, Black/White Dialogue, Green McAdoo Cultural Center, Heritage Alliance, Langston Centre, Leadership and Civic Engagement at East Tennessee State University, McKinney Center, Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association, and the Town of Jonesborough.

To learn more about the International Storytelling Center and upcoming Freedom Stories programming, please visit www.storytellingcenter.net.

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