What's next for the Historic Latta Plantation?
A controversial Juneteenth event at Latta Plantation prompted Mecklenburg County leaders not to renew their contract. The conversation has now shifted to the future. HUNTERSVILLE, N.C.  As leaders with Mecklenburg County close this chapter in the history books with the current non-profit managing the Historic Latta Plantation in Huntersville, local civil rights leaders are pledging their support to help execute a more inclusive vision moving forward. The director of Mecklenburg Countys Parks and Recreation department notified Latta Plantation, Inc. this week that the county intends to end the contract between the two entities effective June 30th. The decision comes after Latta Plantation advertised an event scheduled for Juneteenth that was steeped in controversy. According to a flyer for the event, the site planned to tell stories from the perspective of massa himself and referred to the people enslaved on the site as bondsmen who were high on the hog after the plantations manager went into hiding. Juneteenth, which is recognized on June 19th each year, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. The backlash was swift in response to the event. Mayor Vi Lyles chastised the site managers in a tweet, saying they should have known better. The Charlotte Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was among those who reached out directly to the site, demanding an apology for what they felt was a white supremacist perspective of history. The property manager, Ian Campbell, opted to cancel the event, citing safety concerns in a statement he issued over the weekend. Campbell, who is Black, defended the planned event and refused to apologize. To the masses on social media and politicians, no apology will be given for bringing a unique program to educate the public about former slaves becoming FREE! Campbell wrote in part. Corine Mack, president of the NAACP chapter, wrote a letter to Campbell offering to help them create more inclusive programing at the plantation moving forward. The county ended the contract with the non-profit before any potential meetings could be scheduled. Signs posted at the entrance to the property Wednesday alerted the public that the plantation was closed. According to a statement posted on the Latta Plantation website, the historic site is closed through June 20th. Summer camp offerings were also removed from the website. The director of Mecklenburg Countys Parks and Recreation department said he believes summer camps for the last two weeks of June are canceled. One of those camps was advertised as an opportunity for children to dress as Confederate soldiers. Im happy the events not going to happen, Im happy they ended the contract with them, Mack said. At the end of the day, we cant have this.  Mack said she plans to offer her support to county leaders as they craft a vision for the historic site moving forward. This is an opportunity for us to tell the story through Black eyes, through Black lives, through Black emotions and Black experiences, she said. This is the time to do it.  The NAACP plans to hold a news conference Friday to address the problems that Mack says have plagued the plantation for years. She hopes to offer suggestions about how to create a historic site that is more welcoming and inclusive.