The Elite 11: A Juneteenth Journey Through McLennan County’s Black Heritage

In this powerful Juneteenth documentary, Charles L. Perkins Sr., Secretary-Treasurer of the McLennan County Historical Commission, uncovers the buried history of 11 historically Black communities in Central Texas—what he calls “The Elite 11.” Through 3,000 miles of travel, over 800 hours of research, and invaluable interviews with living griots like Mrs. Inez Harris-Easley and TC Webster, Perkins documents how these communities rose from the shadows of slavery to build schools, churches, and a legacy of resilience.

Learn how the Black church became the nucleus of education, culture, and faith. Discover how Juneteenth became a sacred celebration. And see why preserving oral history is more critical than ever in a time when the teaching of history is under national debate.