Descendants of Jonesville Engage in Discussion on Reconciliation and Honoring the Past
Bowling Green, Ky.
– On a bright July day, descendants of the once prosperous African American community, Jonesville, assembled on the historic grounds to partake in a crucial dialogue with the Jonesville Reconciliation Workgroup. The meeting aimed to share updates regarding the workgroup’s actions and hear the ideas and future plans of the descendants of Jonesville themselves.
Jonesville: A Community to be Remembered
Jonesville was once a thriving African American community whose existence is currently marked by significant establishments including E.A. Diddle Arena and Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. Saturday’s event enabled descendants to reunite on the terrain of the previous community to evoke memories associated with Jonesville, as well as deliberate on how the community should be recognized and honored in the coming years. Archival images and video recordings were also procured for utilization in prospective Jonesville-related endeavors.
For Leonard Bailey, a Jonesville descendant, the reconciliation effort by the university left him with a feeling of pride and acknowledgement. He added, “It just gave me a good feel of what we can do with this and we can educate people, because I was educated on some things that I didn’t know about.”
The Jonesville Reconciliation Workgroup’s Journey
The Jonesville Reconciliation Workgroup was formed during the Spring 2022 semester under the leadership of President Timothy C. Caboni. The group consists of university alumni, employees, Jonesville descendants, and members from the Bowling Green/Warren County community. The workgroup’s key objective is to suitably address the unresolved matters resulting from the disintegration of the Jonesville locality.
The group hosted a reception on Oct. 27, during which they displayed the “What Happened to Jonesville?” exhibition at the Kentucky museum. The occasion also offered a platform to enlighten and identify more descendants. By April 2023, a symposium was conducted at the Martens Alumni Center to disseminate comprehensive information about Jonesville’s history and gather insights from various institutions.
Moving Forward
The efforts initiated by the Jonesville Reconciliation Workgroup towards acknowledging, learning, and commemorating the history of Jonesville have been well-received by the community. The group’s continuous work provides a beacon of hope for effective reconciliation and reparation related to historic injustices. The voices of the descendants of Jonesville at these events and their involvement in future actions are instrumental in not just honoring the past but also shaping how we understand and teach history.
As more descendants connect and progress are made by the workgroup, the legacy of Jonesville gets increasingly preserved and honored, opening up new possibilities for education and reconciliation in the community.
> Side Notes:
> 1. Violence greatly troubled officials at various tiers of American politics long prior to the attempt on former President Trump’s life.
> 2. The Warren County Backpack Program is appealing for financial support for its operations.
> 3. The Green River Valley Water District has temporarily ceased operations for upgrade purposes.
