A little garden party [Video]

The historic Pierce Street neighborhood hosted its first-ever Party on Pierce event, celebrating the third anniversary of the Pierce Street Community Garden on Saturday. The event showcased the neighborhood’s deep-rooted African American history with live performances, walking tours and the unveiling of a new museum exhibits that honor prominent African American figures from the Pierce Street Historic District.

Ghislaine Lewis, executive director for the Pierce Street Gateway, said the new exhibit will feature Pierce Street luminaries on historic markers in the neighborhood, including educator Frank Trigg; Dr. Robert Walter “Whirlwind” Johnson, founder of the American Tennis Association Junior Development Program for African American youths; as well as C.W. Seay, community leader who served as a principal, professor and City Council member. It will also include tributes to Ota Benga, a Mbuti man who was featured in an exhibit at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis and as a …