Juneteenth 2023

POWERED BY JIM AUSTIN ONLINE

What I Learned (About Juneteenth) on My Summer Vacation

BY JENNIFER BOVEE

Beyond remembering Uncle Ben’s face on rice packaging at the grocery stores of the past, many white folks (myself included) have no idea how big a factor rice played in the slave trade. With North Texas located a bit inland, rice being a coastal endeavor, and history classes lacking a truth or two, that’s understandable, I suppose.

On my recent honeymoon trip to South Carolina, we visited Myrtle Beach for some summertime tourist fun on the boardwalk. Then we headed to Charleston for the second leg of the journey. As my beloved has an interest in the Civil War (and history, in general), we saw the Old Slave Mart Museum (6 Chalmers St, Charleston, South Carolina, 843-958-6467), visited the South Carolina Historical Society Museum (100 Meeting St, Charleston, South

Carolina, 843-723-3225), and toured Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens (1235 Long Point Rd, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, 843-8844371) and learned about rice in the process.

The enslaved people first brought to South Carolina, Louisiana, and Texas’ Gulf Coast were skilled workers taken (as in “stolen”) specifically for their experience and knowledge in cultivating, growing, and harvesting rice as they did in their home villages along the coasts of West Africa. While most island and coastal cultures have rice-based meals in their culinary repertoire, this connection to our troublesome past adds another level of interest and importance to American rice.

Before starting at the Weekly, I took six weeks off after my last job ended. I hung out with my cat and marathon-watched every episode of A Chef’s Life on PBS. Since I’m a huge fan of Vivian Howard, the North Carolina chef whose life it is, I was excited to try her newest concept Lenoir (68 Wentworth St, Charleston, South Carolina, 843-534-9031), named for her home county. She had me at peas and rice.

Boone Hall, the plantation we visited (one of the country’s only continuously working farms), is at a remote location and was protected from the destruction of the war. When the slaves were emancipated in April 1865, the property was left virtually unscathed. Our tour guide mused that it must have been quite a sight when the soldiers arrived and the celebration began. “Hollywood should do a movie about that moment at Boone Hall.”

Word spread from port to port along the Gulf Coast, but it did take some time to reach everyone. In our state, they got the news in June 1865 in the Port of Galveston. Since then, Black Texans have celebrated the occasion every June 19, and thanks to the efforts of our own Dr. Opal Lee, Juneteenth is now a national holiday.

With Juneteenth 2023 upon us, local community leaders like Dr. Lee and Jim Austin — and events like Soul of Sycamore — have big plans for us here in North Texas in the coming weeks. Read about the upcoming events in this week’s Night & Day

After trying the Carolina gold variety of rice, I’m interested in learning more about the rice grown throughout our region. Along with Juneteenth, it is also National Caribbean-American Heritage Month. For food and booze events honoring all of the above, check out Ate DAY8 a Week in this issue. l

Texan Reginald Adams painted the public work “Absolute Equality” in honor of Emancipation Day in 1865, the first Juneteenth, when enslaved Galveston people first learned of their freedom.

Courtesy Facebook

Rice plays a vital role in the history of Juneteenth and in this fantastic dish at Lenoir.

Courtesy Facebook

Mega Mixer at the Warehouse FW with Live Performance by Hunter Kennedy Men’s Health Summit

Bill Picket’s Invitational Rodeo: Texas Connection Series DR. OPAL LEE’S WALK FOR FREEDOM

Juneteenth Comedy showcase featuring Celebrity the Comedian R&B Unplugged Party with Paul Cannon and the Band

A Tribute to Selena featuring Natalie Rodriguez R&B Party with Chain Reaction

This National Juneteenth Festival will benefit the non-profit organization National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum & Hall of Fame.

NIGHT & DAY

From 3pm to 6pm, head back to Sycamore Park (2525 Sycamore Dr, Fort Worth, 817-253-2216) for the Soul of Sycamore Father’s Day Celebration: Praise & Worship in the Park. There is no cost to attend.

Presented by JimAustinOnline.com, the National Juneteenth Heritage Festival runs now thru Sat, Jul 1, featuring two Juneteenth R&B Unplugged events at The Warehouse (1125 E Berry St, Fort Worth, 817-923-9305). Paul Cannon performs on Sat, Jun 24, and then Chain Reaction hits the stage on Sat, Jul 1. Doors open at 8pm. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $40 for VIP seating at PaulCannonUnplugged.Eventbrite.com and ChainReactionUnplugged.Eventbrite.com.

Celebrating Juneteenth Throughout June

While the Emancipation Proclamation was made in April 1865, the enslaved people of Texas didn’t get the news until June, and Black Texans have celebrated the occasion on June 19 ever since. Thanks to the efforts of our own Dr. Opal Lee, Juneteenth is now a national holiday. Beyond this Monday, events are popping up all over North Texas. Here are a few.

The newly established National Juneteenth Museum, slated to open in 2025 in Fort Worth, presents its inaugural Uniting Voices Speaker Series at 7pm at the I.M. Terrell Academy (1411 I. M. Terrell Cir, Fort Worth, 817-815-2100). Equal Justice Initiative founder Bryan Stevenson will speak, and author Leah Frazier will moderate. Tickets are $25-100 at bit.ly/ UnitingVoices.

The annual Soul of Sycamore Juneteenth Music & Art Festival is from noon to 8pm at Sycamore Park (2525 Sycamore Dr, Fort Worth, 817253-2216). A Parade of Freedom starts at noon, followed by a 3-on-3 basketball tour-

nament, art exhibits, gaming competitions, and a kids’ zone. The free festival also includes a Community Car Show this year. At 1pm, more than 40 vehicles will compete for trophies. Vehicle registration is $25 at SoulofSycamore.com. Food and drinks are available for purchase.

From 4pm to 10pm, head to Levitt Pavilion (100 W Abram, Arlington, 817543-4308) for the Arlington Juneteenth Celebration. This free public event will feature R&B/jazz artist Ron Artis II, and local food trucks and arts/crafts vendors will be on-site with items available for purchase. You are invited to bring a blanket, lawn chairs, snacks, and drinks. (No glass containers, please.) For more information, visit ArlingtonJuneteenthCelebration.com.

At 2pm, Texas Wesleyan University (3165 E Rosedale St, Fort Worth, 817-531-4444) hosts the second annual Juneteenth Jubilee. This free event will feature African dancers, a bounce house, a fashion show, and local food/market vendors, plus a live art auction. Now thru Sunday, preview the featured pieces of the Second Annual Juneteenth Art Auction via BeMoreinLife.net. The art we’ve featured here, as well as works by various artists, will be available for purchase.

As another part of the National Juneteenth Heritage Festival, see A Tribute to Selena featuring Natalie Rodriguez at 8pm at The Warehouse (1125 E Berry St, Fort Worth, 817-923-9305). Hear Natalie’s take on “Biddy Biddy Bom Bom,” “I Could Fall in Love,” and many other Tejano hits. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $25 for VIP at NatalieTributetoSelena.Eventbrite.com.

Bovee

Soul of Sycamore is back at Sycamore Park Fri-Sun.

Celebrate Juneteenth at the second annual Juneteenth Jubilee at Texas Wesleyan on Sunday and purchase paintings from various artists at a live art auction.

SHOPPING LOCAL

Top Ways to Keep It Local for Dads & Grads

FWW Marketing Feature

There are many, many gift options to consider. We know. As long as you spoil your Dads and Grads this month with locally-sourced gift items, no one will hassle you. #ImSailing

Beer (Duh)

Fort Brewery (2737 Tillar St, Fort Worth, 817-923-8000) has a great promotion this weekend. Buy one six-pack of beer for your dad and get the second one for a penny. Shop online at FortBrewery.com.

DVDs from Movie Trading Company

With nine locations in the North Texas area, Movie Trading Co is a great place to find that perfect Bill Murray film for your father or the newly graduated future film maker in your like. (Who loves you, Don?) Check out the inventory at MovieTradingCompany.com.

Pancakes (Have Some or Make Some)

Cigars (Smoke ‘Em if You’ve Got ‘Em)

Gift Certificates to Underground Cigars (6409 E Lancaster Av, Fort Worth, 817-5073640) is a great way to move yourself higher up the will list. While you’re there, sit a spell and enjoy the inside cigar lounge and outside patio. Ask for owner Don Wiggins and see if he’s still offering that bounty to meet Bill Murray. Can you say obsession? Check out the shop at UnderGroundCigars.com.

You’ve really got three choices here. You can take your people to Ol’ South Pancake House in Fort Worth (1509 S University Dr, 817336-0311) or Burleson (225 E Renfro St, 817989-9090) for a nice meal, buy them a gift card for future enjoyment, or get a gift box of items to create the experience at home. I’m not sure we’d tackle German Pancakes in my own kitchens, but oh they are yummy. Shop online at OlSouthPancakeHouse.com/Store.

Courtesy Fort Brewery

South Pancake House Courtesy Etsy

SCREEN

Blackening: Behind the Green Door

Juneteenth gets bloody and hilarious in this horror-comedy.

BY KRISTIAN LIN

This Juneteenth weekend comes The Blackening, which happens to be pegged to our newest national holiday. It’s adapted from a 2018 short film by the same name, and it does feel like a comedy sketch writ large. That’s normally not a good thing, but this horror-comedy has enough material to work at feature length. It may not be as intellectually worked-out as Jordan Peele’s best stuff, but it is every bit as funny.

The film is set at a cabin in the woods, which is actually a pretty nice house. Seven college friends who haven’t hung out together since graduation a decade ago decide to rent the place and reconnect there over Juneteenth weekend: biracial Allison (Grace Byers), gay Dewayne (Dewayne Perkins), attitudinous Shanika (X Mayo), reformed gangsta King (Melvin Gregg), Steve Urkel manqué Clifton (Jermaine Fowler), bad choice-making Lisa (Antoinette Robinson), and Nnamdi (Sinqua Walls), the hot guy who tends to say the wrong thing. They’re horrified and fascinated when they open up a green door in the house and find a board game called The Blackening, whose board

is dominated by an offensive Sambo mask. The mask talks to the guests and calls them by their names, threatening them with death if they don’t play his game. When they finally give a wrong answer to its questions about Black history, they’re hunted down by a masked creep with a crossbow.

The movie does some guying of slasher-movie tropes, as when our characters react knowingly to suggestions that they split up or someone promising he’ll be right back. The script by Perkins and Tracy Oliver does better when it aims for culturally specific humor. The Sambo mask asks the group about Black actors who appeared on Friends, and our heroes turn out to be vastly knowledgeable about Friends trivia even

though they all swear they don’t watch the show. Eventually the mask demands that the group sacrifice the member whom they decide is the Blackest, and everyone races to prove their lack of bona fides. (“I’ve never seen Friday … I thought Black Twitter was a type of seasoning … I voted for Trump — twice.”)

If the villain behind the killings made any sense at all, this might be a truly great comedy. No matter; the characters bicker pettily amongst themselves in the midst of mortal danger, and it comes off as true. Director Tim Story (who helmed Barbershop and Ride Along) never strikes the wrong tone, which a less experienced director might easily have done. He and his writers

connect this genre spoof to weightier issues. As one woman beats the killer near the end, she says a line that resonates far beyond horror movies: “Why Black women gotta fucking save everyone all the goddamn time?” l

The Blackening

Malcolm Gregg, Grace Byers, Antoinette Robertson, Sinqua Walls, Jermaine Fowler, Dewayne Perkins, and X Mayo are forced to play a game in “The Blackening.”

Starring Grace Byers, Dewayne Perkins, and Sinqua Walls. Directed by Tim Story.

Written by Tracy Oliver and Dewayne Perkins, based on their own short film. Rated R.