While the public celebrates Juneteenth in what is now the halfway point of a roller coaster year, it is important to note the true history behind why we celebrate. The day’s significance isn’t to recognize the end of slavery. Rather, June 19, 1865 is the day that federal orders for the emancipation of enslaved Africans were announced. Only, the declaration had been made official nearly two-and-a-half years prior.
With the holiday gaining traction throughout the country, and now a Federal holiday, in 2020 New York City mayor Bill DeBlasio announcing an executive order that recognizes “Juneteenth” as an official city and school holiday. People of African ancestry celebrate our forefathers, yet we remember their pain, endurance and suffering and do not take it for granted.
Black history is American history. Proud to announce that beginning next year, Juneteenth will be an official city and school holiday.
In the same vein, Hip Hop has served as a diary for Black struggle. With a 400-year head start to make up for, many rappers have recognized the need for unity, as well as establishing our own financial footprint in the United States (the same way other races have been allowed to).
So, here is a playlist of songs that motivates us to become the proprietors of our own destiny.
Capital One City Parks Foundation Summerstage is virtually celebrating the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth, a day commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. The New York City concert series, now known as Summerstage Anywhere, is having a digital day of dance on Friday, June 19, with hourly tribute performances starting at 12:00 p.m. EST leading up to a panel discussion at 7:00 p.m. Originally planned to be held in-person, the Juneteenth event will be free and fully virtual on Summerstage’s Instagram and YouTube channels.
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Performers include RudduR Dance, who will perform an excerpt of their three-part contemporary ballet “Witness” at 6:00 p.m. “Witness” intertwines art and activism to depict the past, present, and future of race in America. During his candidacy, current French president Emmanuel Macron visited a rehearsal. RudduR Dance was founded in 2015 by Guggenheim fellow Christopher Rudd.
At 7:00 p.m., Hope Boykin of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will host a panel discussion called “Reflecting the Times.” Boykin, an alumna of Howard University, is a three-time recipient of the American Dance Festival’s Young Tuition Scholarship. Following the panel, there will be a tribute performance of “Hanging Tree” featuring Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet (JGCO) Dance Theatre, vocalist Marcelle Davies-Lashley, and poet Carl Hancock Rux. For almost 25 years, JGCO has performed across the United States as well as internationally.
Observed annually on June 19, Juneteeth celebrates the end of slavery in Texas in 1865. Following the U.S. Civil War, Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation still had yet to be enforced in Texas until Union general George Granger issued an order in Galveston freeing the last remaining slaves in the Confederacy.
“As a Black woman in America, I am a direct beneficiary of the struggles and battles for justice and I stand on the shoulders of those who fought and continue to fight for my freedom,” said Danni Gee, Dance Curator and Music Programming Associate for SummerStage. “I am honored to be able to celebrate this important anniversary of Juneteenth in our country’s history on SummerStage Anywhere. I am proud to present this program even more so in light of current events and it is crucial to me that the communities we serve know that we stand with them.”
Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage announces the launch of its digital series SummerStage Anywhere. The series will highlight genres that were born in or deeply represent New York including hip hop, salsa, jazz, global, indie, and contemporary dance. SummerStage Anywhere will start on June 6 at 7PM EST and will feature performances each weekend for the rest of June.
Angélique Kidjo photo provided by City Parks Foundations website.
The series will debut on June 6 with an original performance by New Yorker pop phenom MAX. MAX performing a love letter to New York of sorts. Max has been called a “Young Pop God” by GQ in the past and has been called the “top popstar to watch” by Billboard and was nominated for “Best New Pop Artist” at the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards.
On June 13 LAMC (Latin Alternative Music Conference) will be taking the stage and highlighting key voices in the Latino LGBTQ community. Some of the performers include pop singer Kany Garcia, hip hop artist Mabiland, indie electro pop musician Javiera Mena and rock band Circo. The event will be hosted by Los Angeles’ KCRW radio DJ Raul Campos and the Latin Grammy winning artist Cheo, formerly of Los Amigos Invisibles.
On June 19 SummerStage Anywhere will be hosting a celebration for the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth. Juneteenth for those unaware is the nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. The event will be featuring Jamel Gaines’ Creative Outlet Dance Theatre and poet Carl Hancock Rux, and a panel discussion led by Executive Artistic Director of The Billie Holiday Theatre, Dr. Indira Etwaroo.
On June 26 the series will wrap up with an exclusive performance from Angélique Kidjo. Angélique Kidjo is a Grammy Award-winning Beninese singer-songwriter, actress and activist. She will also be doing a live Q&A session after her performance.
The series will be available on SummerStage Anywhere’s website and streamed exclusively on the SummerStage’s YouTube channel. SummerStage is an independent, non-profit organization, and relies on donations to make it’s free performing arts festivals possible. Anyone interested in supporting the SummerStage series can donate.
For a full schedule of upcoming programming and more information please visit SummerStage Anywhere’s website.
