Juneteenth Report
Ottumwa, Puppets and Buxton oh my!
To get started, let’s take a look at yesterday’s DMregister shall we?
I don’t know about you, dear reader but when I saw the JUNETEENTH banner below the masthead of Wednesday’s Register I thought “surely the rest of the page will offer some perspective on the holiday including its historical Texas connection.
Oh there was a Texas connection alright…. my eyes, dropping to the image below the banner were met with Kim Reynolds’ tryna-be-hard glare as she sat amidst a squad of equally hard-eyed Texas lawmen.
Well, despite all the resolute posturing, Iowa’s possible Republican VP hopeful was informed that her reactionary, non-response to immigration policy cooked up in the last legislative session was ruled unconstitutional.
In other actual Iowa Juneteenth news yesterday. We (Eulenspiegal Puppet Theater) traveled to Wapello County to bring Remembering Buxton to the Ottumwa community Juneteenth Celebration Festival. Held in Railroad Park and produced by the Ottumwa Juneteenth Committee, it was obvious that despite the threats of rain, shine or heat Ottumwans of all colors would show up and show the heart for which they are known.
Being a Des Moines resident, I don’t often get outside of my Polk County bubble but today the 90-minute drive from Des Moines to Wapello County was a joy for several reasons.
First, new IWC contributor, the author-historian Rachelle Chase and Monica Leo, the director of the Eulenspiegal Puppet theater were together again presenting their collaborative work Remembering Buxton.
As a bonus, I met other IWC colleagues from the area who were in attendence.
It was a genuine pleasure to connect with veteran journalist Robert Leonard and Editor Doug Burns, two men whose work I admire for thoughtfulness and clarity. It’s rare that I get a chance to reconnect with veteran journalists who hold as much experience and perspective as these guys do.
These are journalists who supply their community with what it needs to know regardless of the financial or political fallout. I hope they know how much I respect them for their efforts in service to their readers and their communities.
Want to know more about Monica’s work and her newest book entitled Hand, Shadow, Rod ? Please start here.
Dartanyan is the sound designer and songwriter for The Buxton Story. In addition to original compositions for the show, he is the voice of Booker T. Washington and George Woodson.
Click Here to see a comprehensive listing of the IWC members
What a day! Thanks Dartanyan...it was so nice to meet you in person, and to see the story, and hear your music. I teared up when they brought out the puppet representing your grandmother. thanks again!
Yeesh! That banner in the Register makes me wonder if maybe Juneteenth should have a less fun-sounding name so people can think about what it commemorates. Bless you for the puppet-work!