Juneteenth: Commemorating the effective end of slavery in the US

Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) celebrates the end of slavery in the U.S. as issued by President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. In 2021, it became the newest national holiday.

From The American Presidency Project, Proclamation 10598—Juneteenth Day of Observance, 2023

“On June 19, 1865—months after the Civil War ended and more than 2 years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation freeing enslaved people—Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to free 250,000 people still held in bondage. The arrival of Major General Gordon Granger and his troops signaled that the Federal Government would not relent until the last enslaved people in America were free.”

Juneteenth: A Profound Celebration of Freedom & Resilience in RI

The popular and necessary Juneteenth RI festival where thousands have attended in past years is back, and this year, includes more opportunities to celebrate African American liberations, accomplishments and contributions through education, effective communication, inner strength and endurance. 

The slate of festivities has been leading up to today and to the 6th annual festival on June 22nd, with a Black history walking tour and free YOUth day and the start of a slave and pioneer exhibit.

TODAY

There’s also a food culture showcase, and a celebration at the Providence Performing Arts Center today. In collaboration with JuneteenthRI, Mixed Magic Theatre, Rhode Island Black Storytellers, and Providence’s Art, Culture, and Tourism. In celebration of Juneteenth, the Providence Performing Arts Center is proud to present the 2nd Annual “From Free to Freedom,” a free and open to the public event.

From Free to Freedom is a play with music, dance and storytelling that celebrates Juneteenth, a holiday that commemorates the end of 300 years of the enslavement of African people in America. This special Wonders of the Wurlitzer concert tells the story of Juneteenth and is a pre-event to the 6^th Annual Juneteenth RI Festival to be held this year in Downtown Providence at 195 District Park on June 22, 2024 from 12P – 7P.

Written and directed by Ricardo Pitts-Wiley of Pawtucket’s Mixed Magic Theatre, From Free to Freedom takes the audience on the journey of a people torn from the lives of family, friends, and traditions in their homelands, through the horrors of bondage, to freedom, accompanied by PPAC’s rare and historic Mighty Wurlitzer as brought to life by PPAC’s House Organist Peter Edwin Krasinski, and narrated by Jomo Peters and Bernadet V. Pitts-Wiley, with a special appearance by Valerie Tutson of the Rhode Island Black Storytellers.

The show’s musical director Kim Pitts-Wiley, in collaboration with veteran Ricardo Pitts-Wiley, direct some of Rhode Island’s finest singers and actors, including Joyce Brayboy, Jeannie Carson, Matt Fraza, Autumn Jefferson, Donna Osborne, Corinne Pitts-Wiley, Habibah Quddus, Ondrea Robinson, Lauri Smalls, Kim Trusty, Aaliyah Turner, Diane Straker, Denyse Wilhelm and Gia Yarn.
This event is free and open to the public. No ticket required. More info – HERE

“Juneteenth is a grassroots movement that celebrates freedom, community, and unity,” said Helen Baskerville Dukes, who leads Juneteenth RI’s Board of Directors. “It’s inspiring to see people from all walks of life come together to honor this important milestone in American history and to recognize the contributions of African Americans to our society.”

She continued, “The diversity of Juneteenth celebrations, from intimate gatherings to grand festivals, reflects the richness and vibrancy of the African American experience. By encouraging everyone to participate in local events or start their own traditions, we emphasize the importance of community engagement and collective action in advancing social justice and equality.”

A Providence Black History Walking Tour was held on June 1st, and YOUth Day on June 8th. The African American slave and pioneer exhibit, Instruments of Slavery was on display from June 10th through June 16th at the Southside Cultural Center of Rhode Island.

The 2024 events conclude with the 6th Annual Juneteenth RI Festival on June 22 from noon to 7PM at the 195 District Park in downtown Providence. There are performances planned throughout the day as well as vendors, dancing, and other activities. The featured artist will be Stokley Williams, best known as the lead singer and drummer of the Grammy nominated R&B band, Mint Condition. 

Go to www.juneteenthri.com to learn more, register to any of our events and stay connected. 

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RI Black Film Festival – TODAY

Meet at 195 District Park at 7:45pm, TODAY!

Rhode Island Black Film Festival is celebratinng with screening of the film “PRICE OF ADMISSION: BLACK BASEBALL IN RHODE ISLAND” from Elmcrest Film Director Francis J. Leazes, Jr.  Narrated by Rhode Island Black StoryTellers’ Valerie Tutson “The Price of Admission” tells a story about baseball, power, money and the black community from the early 1900’s through The Jazz Age and the Great Depression of the 1930’s. It is an epic tale about two nearly forgotten men, Arthur James “Daddy” Black and Daniel “Big Dan” Whitehead who made Sports History in Rhode Island and broke barriers while doing so. Meet us at 195 District Park at 7:45pm, TODAY!

@RIBFF Twitter: @Elmcrestfilms. The screening is Free – Go here to sign up: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ira-reidhaverford-colleges-unsung-scholar-a-documentary-tickets-922109583587?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl