Heritage Festival Kicks Off Tomorrow

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – During the 1940s and 50s, 7th Avenue North in Columbus served as the hub for area black culture.

Now each year the 7th Avenue Heritage Festival shines a light on the historic value the area still holds.

“The Famous Queen City Hotel” was the main attraction of the area, where several big name African American: musicians, athletes and artists stayed during the Jim Crowe era.

Festival coordinators tell me this annual tradition brings fond, old memories of that time flooding back.

During the civil rights era, there were only a few places African American’s could go to enjoy business and pleasure in Columbus.

“When you read the history of 7th ave, it was kind of a hustle and bustle place at one point in time. The center piece of 7th avenue was the Queen City Hotel,” says Lowndes County Supervisor, Leroy Brooks.

Owned by Mr. Ed Bush, Queen City is where the nationally known in the African America community stayed while visiting the area.

Brooks says the hotel was a national attraction and it holds many memories for area residents.

“We still talk about what it was to us and how it impacted our lives and what it meant so you know it’s not what it use to be but still in the psyche of those that walked that avenue and remember going into those clubs and remember the things we did as teenagers right or wrong it’s just part of who we are”

The Hotel was demolished in 2005. Brooks says 7th avenue hasn’t been the same since.

“You’ve got probably generations out there that have no idea. Now, you have the marker over there but it’s not the same for people that didn’t know but for those of us, what ever we did it’s apart of our psyche.”

State Representative Kabir Karieem says attending the Heritage Festival is an opportunity for the community to gain a better understanding of it’s history.

“It’s not just African American history. It’s just history within it’s self and I just want folks to embrace it. Embrace what once was, all people of color of this community had and we just want folks to look at what is and see how we can make it better.”

The festival officially kicks off at five, Friday afternoon.