Eighth of August

Over 100 people attended a town hall meeting in Paducah Thursday to discuss how to move forward following a deadly shooting that interrupted local Eighth of August Emancipation Day celebrations last week.

Community seeks solutions after fatal shooting interrupts Paducah Eighth of August celebrations

Hannah Saad

After a shooting last weekend interrupted Eighth of August celebrations in Paducah last weekend, more than 100 people gathered at a town hall meeting Thursday evening to talk about how the community could try to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Congregants at Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Paducah, Kentucky, gather for a Salute to Gospel concert on Sunday, Aug. 7, as part of the community's Eighth of August celebrations.

Society

Western Kentucky communities hosting Eighth of August emancipation celebrations

Hannah Saad

Several western Kentucky communities are holding Eighth of August celebrations this weekend honoring the emancipation of formerly enslaved people in the region.

Society

Black Kentuckians, Tennesseans celebrate emancipation with Eighth of August events

Derek Operle

For many Black Kentuckians and Tennesseans, the Eighth of August is a special day – a time for barbecue, reuniting with loved ones and marking their freedom from slavery. These annual celebrations are in the same spirit as Juneteenth, but their roots predate those of the now national holiday.