Latta Plantation Faces Backlash For 'Racist' Juneteenth Event

HUNTERSVILLE, NC — A living history event sympathetic to the plight of "white refugees" following the end of slavery planned at Historic Latta Plantation for June 19 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.

The "Kingdom Coming" event planned at the Huntersville plantation home built in the early 1800s was initially advertised on the Historic Latta Plantation website as a $25 per person, one-night-only 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."

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."

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

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

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.

"What are these summer camps celebrating? Whose history is being told," said another.

Said another commenter, "It feels incredibly inappropriate to romanticize such a dark period. If there were children of color there what 'role' would they be placed in?"

SEE ALSO: Juneteenth 2021: Upcoming Davidson Event Marks The End Of Slavery