A former Black University of Arkansas football star thought it would be a good idea to host a Juneteenth event with an all-white lineup. The 60-something-year-old man quickly found out that his skinfolk on social media wasn’t trying to hear it.
Muskie Harris has now canceled the ridiculous event called “Juneteenth Soul Food and Market” after backlash from social media users. A proof of a flyer advertising the event was somehow leaked, and good ol’ boy Muskie caught hell for it. The line-up included three lily-white guests, Rex Nelson; senior editor at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Heather Baker; President of AY Media Group, and David Bazzel– radio personality at KABZ.
Calling the Juneteenth event a unity function, Muskie said, “I got a rope around my neck, and I’m tarred and feathered over an event that’s already dead. It just got perceived in the wrong way, and my sponsors said to leave it alone. It’s dead. It’s dried up.”
Black Twitter shared its thoughts on the event.
I’d rather eat a tub of mayonnaise, slather myself in honey and say “Candyman” three times in the mirror than go to any #Juneteenth event with this lineup! pic.twitter.com/H8JgLfyXXr
— Keka Araújo (@KAraujoNWT) April 27, 2022
I’m gon need to see a menu…😐 pic.twitter.com/ilM4KDAO6G
— David Alan Grier (@davidalangrier) April 27, 2022
The good white folks of Arkansas didn’t waste any time trying to gentrify and take the seasoning right out of Juneteenth. My Arkansas folks….what ya’ll gon do? pic.twitter.com/qgc23dOmMa
— Mr. Franklin (@Kamikaze601) April 26, 2022
Arkansas… what the ever lasting fuck is this?!?! Who approved this?! Why the fuck is these clear ppl the hosts for a fucking JUNETEENTH event! I outta come slap every n!gga at that damn festival pic.twitter.com/mkBn31IxHW
— Slytherin Slut💫 (9213140) (@Plussize__Diva) April 27, 2022
Aye @HeatherHBaker @DavidBazzel please tell me this is fake and y’all not gentrifying #Juneteenth in Arkansas https://t.co/49BsFsNujq
— Jabee (@mynameisJabee) April 26, 2022
Although listed on the flyer, the Urban League of Arkansas distanced itself from the “Juneteenth Soul Food and Market” with the quickness.
“Please read – the Urban League of the State of Arkansas is and was not involved in any aspect of this program. We are concerned of the appearance of participation without our approval. It’s unfortunate that some failed to recognize the optics and the absolute need to engage prior to this being developed,” the organization wrote on its Facebook page.
On Wednesday, the Urban League issued a press release expressly denouncing the unauthorized use of its organization’s name on events.
The Juneteenth Arkansas Festival also told its followers that their organization wasn’t affiliated with the foolishness either.
“Our organization is NOT affiliated with this event. This is not Juneteenth Arkansas or Arkansas Juneteenth Unity Foundation.”
While Muskie called for unity and felt the need to include white folks in Juneteenth festivities, his background may shed some light on his Uncle Ruckus behavior. In 1990, he ran and won as a Republican for lieutenant governor, beating out racist party member Kenneth Forbes, a member of the American Nazi Party. Muskie has also said the only color he sees is “Razorback Red (a reference to the University of Arkansas’ football team).
On June 17, President Joe Biden made the Black American holiday that originated in Galveston, Texas- a federal holiday.
