Huntersville's Latta Plantation Funding On Hold Amid Controversy

HUNTERSVILLE, NC — Fallout from a controversial event planned by Historical Latta Plantation that was canceled due to criticism it was racist could potentially cost the Huntersville living history museum thousands of dollars in local funding. The Town of Huntersville said any upcoming financial contributions to the program this year will be on hold pending an investigation.

Historic Latta Plantation advertised the June 19 "Kingdom Coming" event as one sympathetic to the plight of "white refugees" following the end of slavery. The event was abruptly canceled Friday after backlash from Mecklenburg County government officials and complaints from the community that it was racist.

June 19 is the annual celebration of Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States.

SEE ALSO: Latta Plantation Faces Backlash For 'Racist' Juneteenth Event

The event description read:
"Come out to Historic Latta Plantation for a one-night event, Saturday, June 19, 2021. You will hear stories from the massa himself who is now living in the woods. Federal troops (Yankees) have him on the run and his former bondsmen have occupied his home and are now living high on the hog. Hear how they feel about being freedmen. The overseer is now out of a job. What will he do now that he has no one to oversee from can see to can't see? White refugees have been displaced and have a story to tell as well. Confederate soldiers who will be heading home express their feelings about the downfall of the Confederacy."

Following the event's cancellation, the Town of Huntersville issued a statement in support of "zero tolerance for programs that do not embrace equity and diversity."

"The Huntersville Board of Commissioners has supported Latta Plantation in the past with an annual contribution," the town said. "Funding for the new fiscal year will remain on hold pending further investigations into the facts surround this program."

The hold in funding stands to cost the museum thousands. In 2019, the Town of Huntersville gave Latta Plantation $15,000 from proceeds from a tourism tax fund. Last year, the town gave $20,000. For fiscal year 2021, the museum requested a $20,000 contribution from the town.

"I disagreed with the tone of the initial message from the Latta Plantation invite, and I think further discussion needs to be had between the town and the executive director before the town would commit any additional funding," Huntersville Mayor John Aneralla told Patch Monday.

SEE ALSO: What Is Juneteenth? 5 Things To Know About The Holiday That Marks The End Of Slavery

According to county officials, Latta Plantation is on land owned by Mecklenburg County but the facility and all programming are run by an independent nonprofit group. Friday afternoon, the county said the event will prompt a review of its agreement with the vendor managing the facility.

"Mecklenburg County has zero-tolerance for programs that do not embrace equity and diversity," Mecklenburg County Government said in a tweet. "Parks and Recreation was not aware of the planned event at Latta Nature Preserve until it appeared on social media. We immediately reached out to the organizers and the event was canceled. As a result of this indecent, Mecklenburg County is looking at its contract with the facility vendor regarding future programming."

SEE ALSO: Biden Signs Bill Making Juneteenth A National Holiday: Replay

Charlotte's top elected official also weighed in.

"That day should be celebrated and honored in the most humble way possible, with laser focus on the perspective of the inhumane treatment of an enslaved people," Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said of Juneteenth. "We should not support any business or organization that does not respect equality, history, and the truth of the African-American people's journey to freedom. Despite intent, words matter. And the Historic Latta Plantation should know better."

By Friday afternoon, the event was no longer advertised on the Historic Latta Plantation website or Facebook page.

Some vented their opposition to the event on a post advertising a Civil War Soldier Camp in late June. "Who made the decision to plan and promote a racist event for June 19th? It defies logic to see how any event organizer could have thought this was a good idea," said one commenter.

Historic Latta Plantation's site manager, Ian Campbell, issued a lengthy, defiant statement over the weekend lashing out at the media and defending the program he said he had a hand in creating. "To the masses on social media and politicians, no apology will be given for bringing a unique program to educate the public about former slaves becoming FREE!" said Campbell, who is Black.

"Many people complained about Historic Latta not doing anything for Juneteenth. Then when I create a unique event to highlight our successful struggle out of slavery, there is backlash from many who have never visited our historical site. William T. Sherman had a dislike for the media of his day," Campbell said. "I understand what he may have been going through."

[Patch note: Sherman is widely credited with having said, “If I had my choice, I would kill every reporter in the world, but I am sure we would be getting reports from hell before breakfast.”]

Campbell's entire statement may be read here.

Latta Plantation has lost other funding in recent years due to its programming choices. The Arts and Science Council, a Charlotte-based non-profit, blasted the event, saying, "It is frustrating and upsetting that Historic Latta Plantation continues to tell and share the site's history in ways that centers and protects the feelings of white people while diminishing the stories and contributions of Black people," the organization said via social media. "This is white supremacy and one of the reasons we stopped providing operating support funding to Historic Latta Plantation in 2016."