Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 12-31-19

Feature Local
Meaning Of Watch Night Celebration In Black Community
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Some African American people in the United States recognize three significant occasions at the end of De- cember. The first is Christ- mas, a religious holiday honoring the birth of Jesus. The second is Kwanzaa, which is not a religious holi- day. And still others recog- nize Watch Night, an event that gives praise to God and freedom.
The first Watch Night or Freedom Night took place on December 31, 1862, 157 years ago. It took place during the American Civil War.
Slaves had learned that
President Abraham Lin- coln had signed the Emanci- pation Proclamation, a document that freed slaves in
FREDRICK DOUGLASS ... Abolitionist, Statesman
the Confederate states and those under Federal control. The document was used as a war measure stating that if the southern states who had seceded from the young did not return of their own by December 31, 1862, then the slaves would be freed for- ever.
PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN
... Signed the Emancipation Proclamation
Frederick Douglass
wondered why President Lincoln had not freed all slaves. However, he viewed the document as a first step toward freedom.
On December 31, 1862, slaves watched the night turn into a new dawn while wait- ing for news that the Eman- cipation Proclamation had been issued, thus making all the slaves legally free.
As a result, slaves gath- ered at churches or private homes to give praise to God, shout, sing, and celebrate freedom.
The legislation became law at the stroke of midnight on December 31, 1862. The final version of the document also allowed Blacks to join the Union Army. By the end of the war, more than 200,000 Black men had served.
Since its inception, Watch Night has become a religious event that usually begins in the Black Church around 7 p.m. Service is held through- out the evening and in some instances, food is served.
Tampan Set To Give Trial Sermon
On New Year’s Eve
As the year 2019 comes to a close, a Tampa man is set to begin a new Christian jour- ney.
Deacon Dwight A. Bolden is set to begin his Christian journey into pastor- ship with his trial sermon. The service will be held on Tuesday evening, December 31, 2019, New Year’s Eve, during the Watch Night Serv- ice at the Christian Fellow- ship M. B. Church, Rev. Dr. Henry J. Lyons, Pastor.
Services are being held at the Carver City/Lincoln Gar- dens Civic Center, 1512 N. Clark Ave.
Doors for the service open at 8 p. m., with Deacon Bolden scheduled to speak at 8:30 p. m. Dinner will be served following this service, with the Watch Night Service set to begin at 11 p. m., with Rev. Dr. Lyons in charge.
Deacon Bolden says,
DWIGHT A. BOLDEN
“Many are called, a few are chosen, meaning God calls you to work and there’s much work to do. It’s work for the Lord and not yourself; there- fore, let God and not yourself do the work of the chosen.
“I invite everyone to join me and my family, church family and friends and wit- ness me take my first steps in this, my Christian journey.”
City Of Tampa New Year’s Eve Celebration
New Yarrgh’s Eve Booty Drop -- Tampa’s New Signature Event
The City of Tampa is ex- cited for a NEW annual tradi- tion: the New Yarrgh’s Eve Booty Drop powered by Amgen and iHeartMedia.
New Yarrgh’s Eve is one-of- a-kind New Year’s Eve celebra- tion featuring a “booty drop” countdown to midnight. The free, family-friendly event will include live entertainment, food and drink vendors, and a unique countdown experience you won’t want to miss.
The main spectacular, the “booty drop” will consist of a 320ft. tall 3-D mapped projec- tion of a treasure chest being “dropped” on the side of River- gate Tower, headliner music provided by the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
The public is invited to wit- ness the dynamic visual display as we countdown to 2020 to- gether.
“In Tampa, we don’t drop the ball on City traditions —but we will be dropping a treasure chest instead,” joked Mayor Jane Castor. “I’m so excited for Tampa to embrace another new tradition that will bring our community together to ring in 2020 and many more years to come.”
This new event is made possible thanks to the generous contributions of community partners like iHeartMedia and Amgen, as well as the collabo- rative effort of the Tampa’s Downtown Partnership and Tampa Parks & Recreation.
The City of Tampa invites all to join the fun and pAR- RGHty into the new year at this inaugural event taking place December 31st, 2019 (9 p. m.- 12:30 a. m.) at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.
For more information about the New Yarrgh’s Eve Booty Drop, visit nyebooty- drop.com
PAGE 2 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2019