ASHLAND —
The Booker T. Washington Festival has never grown much beyond a devoted core group of people who gather yearly in the field beside Dawson Pool.
No matter. For all 22 years, founder Jimmy Johnson has been there, working tirelessly to make the festival a good time for all, including the children of the community.
On Saturday, festival participants turned down the music, fetched the kids from the inflatables, and turned their attention to the stage where Johnson’s niece Gwen Masterson was speaking.
Masterson, who with Johnson’s other niece Ernestine Buckner has taken over chairmanship of the festival, was talking about her uncle and the determination that has kept the festival alive. “All these years he stood here and he tried, and he tried,” she said, her voice quavering.
For that she presented him a commemorative plaque and promised to continue the festival until it achieves the stature it deserves. And she challenged listeners to help her.
“You tell somebody and I’ll tell somebody and maybe next time it will be bigger. But never give up. Never give up,” she said.
“You are special to me and you are special to the other people who are standing out here. We love you,” she told Johnson.
Johnson explained why the festival means so much to him. He remembers the era when black people were only allowed in Camden Park one day a year, in August. Other entertainment venues were similarly shuttered to African Americans.
He also knows there are plenty of children in the community whose families can’t afford elaborate entertainment. The festival is for them.
What he is still fighting for is wider recognition in the community that the festival is for everyone else too.
Although it was founded to commemorate Booker T. Washington High School, which stood at the site in segregation days, Johnson insists the festival is not a black event but a celebration for everyone in town.
“We need them to come down here,” he said. “This has always been city event, not a private event.”
Saturday was BTW Idol night, and the traditional pageant will take place Monday. The inflatables are free and there is swimming, basketball, horseshoes and cornhole.
Masterson plans to form a committee and find ways to expand the festival’s appeal. She and Johnson said a little more support from the city would help a lot.
Anyone who would like to be on the committee may contact Masterson at (606) 393-5014.
MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2652.
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