NEWS & OPINION FEATURE
the end of slavery for the 250,000 enslaved peoples still in Texas. By December of that year, slavery was formally abolished by the passing of the 13th Amendment. Juneteenth, also known as Jubilee Day, celebrates the end of slavery in the U.S. and is marked by music, BBQs, prayer, and other community celebrations. Over the decades, its popularity has Where to celebrate freedom risen and fallen, and is currently on the rise again in light of the Black Lives Matter movement and more and the future awareness around racial issues. Charlotte communities are celebrating this BY STAFF momentous occasion with a ton of enriching and Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 that federal celebratory events through the week of Juneteenth troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to ensure that all around the city. Here are just a few. all enslaved peoples were freed. Although the Emancipation Proclamation was announced and CHARLOTTE BLACK FILM FESTIVAL put into effect two-and-a-half years prior, many Celebrating African-American voices in film as well states that were not in the Confederacy but still held as independent filmmakers, the Charlotte Black Film enslaved peoples had not freed them yet, as the Festival is going on its 11th year of uplifting those Emancipation Proclamation only applied to those voices. Remaining virtual in 2021, the film festival within the Confederacy. boasts student films, feature-length films, short Texas was one of those states, and many films and documentaries. enslavers had moved there, viewing it as a haven More: Sold out; June 16-20, times vary; online; for slavery. However, in spring 1865, Union Army charlotteblackfilmfestival.com General Gordon Granger’s arrival in Texas marked
Pg. 5 JUN 16 - JUN 29, 2021 - QCNERVE.COM
JUNETEENTH IN CHARLOTTE 2021 GUIDE
JUNETEENTH OF THE CAROLINAS
The Juneteenth of the Carolinas celebration was launched to celebrate the ending of slavery in the U.S. and share the history of that time while providing a connection to contemporary culture and the future. Juneteenth of the Carolinas is entering its 24th year of celebration, including a peaceful march for Black lives that will start at Grady Cole Center and end at House of Africa in Plaza Midwood, which has served as the center for the celebration for many years. The march begins at 10 a.m. on June 19. More: Free; June 17-20; Plaza Midwood neighborhood; juneteenthofthecarolinas.com
JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION
FREEDOM
Celebrating the holiday with live performances, food trucks, music, and more. More: Free-$75; June 19; Kingdom Covenant Church, 2731 N. Graham St.; tinyurl.com/KingdomCovenant
DRIVE THROUGH CELEBRATION
JUNETEENTH
Decorate your vehicle and join the Juneteenth Drive Through Celebration on the Beatties Ford Road corridor. Afterwards, enjoy African performances, Juneteenth coloring sheets, and children’s activities. BELMONT JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION More: Free; June 19, 12:30 p.m.; line up at McCrorey YMCA, 3801 Beatties Ford Road; afterparty begins at The neighborhood of Belmont is celebrating 3 p.m.; 1412 Beatties Ford Road Juneteenth with a parade, vendors, and a virtual 2K facebook.com/ForTheStruggleInc walk. With a mission to cultivate cultural awareness, acceptance, and preservation through artistic and AFRICAN DANCE cultural events, the Belmont Juneteenth Celebration JUNETEENTH is celebrating its fifth year of serving the community. EXPERIENCE More: Free; June 19; Belmont neighborhood; Elsie Mufuka, owner and founder of Mufuka Works tinyurl.com/BelmontJuneteenth Dance Company, takes the workshop on a journey through the history of African dance, and examines the numerous dance styles of sub-Saharan Africa. JUNETEENTH JAM Two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, The class will focus on the role dance has traditionally freedom finally came. Conceived by Emmy Award- played in celebrations, and how body movement has winning poet Boris “Bluz” Rogers, The Juneteenth affected healing. Mufuka, who traces her bloodline Jam celebration takes place at multiple Uptown back to Zimbabwe, guides participants through locations including Victoria Yards, The Square on simple but expressive dance choreography, after the Plaza and the NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza. which all can perform as a collective. The festival features live music, interactive dance More: Free; June 19, 1 p.m.; Gantt Center for sessions by Reba Bowens, demonstrations by Ginga African American Arts + Culture, 551 S.Tryon St.; Capoeira, hip-hop performances curated by We ganttcenter.org Are Hip Hop’s AJ Glasco, and the return of Dammit Wesley and BLKMRKTCLT’s Durag Fest (below). SOULFLO JUNETEENTH DAY EDITION More: Free; June 18 - 19; The Square, Victoria Yards, Last year, Davidson College apologized for supporting NASCAR Hall of Fame; slavery in the 19th century and for embracing racism blumenthalarts.org/events/detail/juneteenth-jam in the time that followed. Now the surrounding town that bears the college’s name is hosting a Juneteenth celebration. Soulflo, sponsored by Culture Blocks, is DURAG FEST Deconstructing misconceptions and biases about a blend of storytelling, and spoken-word and live the iconic item that is the durag, Durag Fest will music by Emaejai, DayVon and Sajoya Jasper, and bring together the community with live music from 1WAYNORTH. The S.O.U.L.F.L.O. Band, Dr. T and John Tia Corine, DJ Fannie Mae and other artists, plus food Harris III host the empowering festivities. As the event’s press release puts it, “Prepare for dulcified trucks, screen printing, and more. More: Free; June 19; The Square, Victoria Yards, delights dipped in the Soulflo!” More: Free; June 19, 7 p.m.; Davidson Village Green, NASCAR Hall of Fame; duragfestival.com 119 S. Main St., Davidson; tinyurl.com/DavidsonJuneteenth INFO@QCNERVE.COM
THE 2020 JUNETEENTH OF THE CAROLINAS CELEBRATION IN PLAZA MIDWOOD.
PHOTO BY JAYME JOHNSON
DAY
