Panelists discuss growing up in segregated Macon at Tubman Museum’s Juneteenth event

One of the panelists, Rubie London Major, talked about how they were given used school books from white schools for class each year rather than new ones like their peers.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – People gathered at the Tubman Museum in Macon on Wednesday to celebrate Juneteenth.

The museum hosted a panel discussion called ‘Being Young, Gifted and Black in a Segregated City.’

Three people who grew up and lived in Macon during the height of segregation and integration were on Wednesday’s panel.

One of the panelists, Rubie London Major, talked about how they were given used school books from white schools for class each year rather than new ones like their peers.

She also talked about the importance of getting these stories out to future generations.

“The history needs to be told,” she said. “When you talk about untold stories, because there’s so many gaps in our history, so people like me who lived it, willing to say it, need to be willing to come out to say, ‘This is what happened.’ This how we overcame it, and this is what we’re doing going forward, to keep it going so the future generations don’t endure some of the things that we did.”

Juneteenth originated on June 19, 1865. It commemorates the official end of slavery in the United States. It became a federal holiday in 2021.