CAMILLA, Ga. (WALB) - Saint Peter AME Church kicked off Black History Month with a Thirteenth Amendment celebration highlighting African Americans’ freedom from slavery in the United States.

The event featured live music and guest speakers from the NAACP, giving attendees a chance to learn about important figures across the country and in South Georgia who helped shape history.

Frederick Davis, the event organizer, said the community gathering brought out strong emotions.

“Oh man, it makes I get emotional because when I look out there and I saw all of these people, it just brought tears to my eyes because of the fact that I know I’m not alone,” Davis said.

This marks the second version of the event, which has grown significantly since last year. Willie Lawson, one of the guest speakers and an educator for 10 years who has conducted black history programs in the school system, said he was pleased to see community participation.

“So it’s very refreshing to see that, you know, we have people in the community that want to be a part of this,” Lawson said.

Dr. Gloria Walden, pastor of St. Peter AME Church, said gatherings like this are essential for people to stay informed, especially given ongoing challenges affecting the surrounding area.

“I am rejoiceful, I am rejoiceful because this kind of program, this information, is very much needed in our community today in the midst of a lot of violence,” Walden said.

The goal for speakers at the event was for attendees to learn the history of how the Thirteenth Amendment came to be and share that knowledge with others.

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