Elyria Juneteenth celebration honors Black legacy, contributions

The history and contributions of Black Elyrians to the city and outside world were displayed and honored during Saturday's Juneteenth celebration on Ely Square. The second annual Junteenth celebration featured music, dancing, prayers, food, fellowship and community as the city celebrated the emancipation of African-Americans from slavery, a holiday first celebrated during the Civil War in 1865 — more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. More than 150 years later, President Joe Biden signed Juneteenth into law as a federal holiday on June 17, 2021. Saturday afternoon was capped off with a series of proclamations handed out by Mayor Frank Whitfield and Ethan West, president of the Elyria Black Legacy Connection. West said it is the Elyria Black Legacy Connection's mission to highlight the Black residents of Elyria, speak about and celebrate Elyria's Black community, and "do justice by what their stories are." "Our stories are not done," West said. Posters around Ely Square told family histories and the stories of individual Black Elyrians, sponsored by their families, the Elyria Black Legacy Connection, businesses and organizations. Among the stories: Descended from Jordan Fitzpatrick, who was born enslaved in Kentucky sometime around 1835, Albert Fitzpatrick is one of 12 children — seven of whom would go on to serve in the armed forces.Born in Elyria in 1928, his family was the only African-American family on South Oak Street, according to the Black Legacy Connection. He graduated from Elyria High School in 1945, covering sports for The Chronicle-Telegram while in school.He attended Lorain County Community College, Miami University of Ohio and Kent State University, where he eventually got his degree in journalism and sociology. He served in the U.S. Army for two years and the U.S. Air Force for four years in two wars: World War II and the Korean War.Albert Fitzpatrick went on to become the only African American on staff at the Akron Beacon Journal, working his way up through the newsroom to become the first African-American editor and executive director before going on to develop a diversity program for the Knight Ridder newspaper publishing company.His honors include a shared Pulitzer Prize for the coverage of the May 4, 1970, shootings at Kent State University, being the first African-American admitted into the American Society of News Editors, and being past president and a Hall of Fame member of the National Association of Black Journalists, among others. Ethan West's grandmother, Gertrude Bragg. Born in 1899 and died in 2000, she lived in three different centuries and also outlived her children and two husbands, according to West and a family history posted on the square.In between, she held a number of jobs including as the first woman machinist at Elyria's Bendix plant.Bragg "instilled so much in my family," West said.Her granddaughter and West's aunt, Brenda Conley, would go on to be the first female lineman for the Western Reserve Phone Company. West also presented her with a proclamation on Saturday. Tony Brown, the first Black coach of the Elyria High School girls basketball team.Though originally from Oberlin, "we won't hold that against him," West joked. Whole families who contributed to Elyria's cultural and sports history, and individuals who served in the armed forces also were honored Saturday. One proclamation went to U.S. Army Air Force 2nd Lt. Ferrier White, an Elyria native and Tuskegee Airman whose plane went down during a training flight over the Adriatic Sea during World War II in April 1945. A South Maple Street resident and Elyria High School graduate, his family later moved to Oberlin. Even so, West said Elyria should honor him as a native son. Whitfield said he was glad to see all those who turned out on Saturday to celebrate Juneteenth and freedom. He encouraged Elyrians to return to the city to share their skills and services, even those who moved away, and also for people to sign up to be mentors to the youth in the community. "Firsts are a big deal," said Whitfield, the first elected African-American mayor of Elyria. "Sometimes we are holding the door for the folks behind us." Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.