Celebrating Juneteenth
Between worldwide protests in response to the May 25 death of George Floyd while in police custody and President Trump's controversial choice in initially scheduling his Tulsa rally on Juneteenth, awareness of the June 19 holiday is elevated.
"As a black person who grew up in Oklahoma City and still lives here ... I can recall those Juneteenth events happening in northeast Oklahoma City, but I can't recall them occurring anywhere else," said Camal Pennington, Plaza District Association board member.
"In the Plaza District, with its ultimate goal of being an inclusive place for all, I think that emphasizing Black artists has just not been something that we've done before. So, this was just a great opportunity for us to step up and be true to our values."
Officially commemorated on June 19, Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of slaves in America. Camille Landry, co-owner and operator of Nappy Roots Books, called the holiday "as American as Fourth of July."
The book store is co-sponsoring and hosting an outdoor Juneteenth Celebration produced by Black Lives Matters OKC from 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday. The free event will feature food trucks and vendors, children's activities and live performances by Jabee, Shortt Dogg, Nitro, DJ Reaper and Spence Brown.
"Juneteenth is — or absolutely should be — an American holiday. ... It's of particular importance to African American people, but it is American history. So, certainly this celebration is open to everybody," Landry said. "It's particularly important for people who have never heard of it before now to come out and be a part of it. Because until we begin to understand each other — each other's history, each other's culture and each other's struggles — we'll never be able to unite and make this country what it's supposed to be."
Although Trump ultimately moved his rally at BOK Center to Saturday, it will hardly be the only big event in downtown Tulsa this weekend. The “I, Too, Am America: Juneteenth Rally for Justice" from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday will feature live music by Charlie Redd and the Full Flava Kings, Branjae and more, a keynote speech by the Rev. Al Sharpton and an array of festivities in the historic Greenwood District.
In Guthrie, the inaugural Juneteenth Unity Walk is planned at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the historic Scottish Rite Masonic Temple. Constance Scott, one of the organizers, said the walk will show support for Black Lives Matter, racial equality and police reform, and she hopes it will eventually grow into a larger celebration of the holiday.
"This one is going to be just about as simple as we can try to make it," Scott said. "We're trying to come together to show that we can all celebrate this as a community."
Amplifying Black voices
Another new event, Unify OKC, will showcase Black-owned businesses, Black performers and local nonprofits from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday at The Bridge Church's Bricktown campus. The event is intended to raise awareness of local companies owned by people of color.
"I think a really palpable way to sort of begin a conversation or to open up dialogue is through the arts. I grew up really influenced by that (since) my mom is a painter," said Savannah Klee, one of the organizers. "I love organizing events ... and we really want to amplify those Black voices."
Also in downtown, RACE Dance Collective and other dancers in the Oklahoma hip-hop community will be collaborating from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday for Dance Your Stance, a march, dialogue and dance.
"Our (event) is saying, 'Hey, Juneteenth is really important, but now let's move that forward and continue what's happening to the next day, to the next week, to the next month, to the next year," said RACE Dance founder Hui Cha Poos.
It will start at RACE's space in Film Row and wind up at the Sonic Stage in Bricktown, a favorite spot for local street dancers.
"Anyone that is not Black — including myself — is a guest in this kind of culture, so we have to appreciate especially what these underprivileged people that are just stuck in this systemic oppression ... were able to create and make for us. Black culture gave a lot of my life for the last 15 years meaning ... so for us not to speak up, that kind of inaction would be an injustice," said OKC street dancer Christian "Unpredictable" Ybarbo, who is of Hispanic heritage.
Artistic solidarity
Along with a performance by RACE Dance, Friday's Plaza District event will feature works by Oklahoma City photographer Gay Pasley, the Black Moon Tulsa artist collective and OKC painter Ebony Iman Dallas, who has helped organize the artists for the event.
"I think that George Floyd's death has really struck a chord with people, and it's a sustained chord. People are protesting, we're trying to find different ways to contribute our voices to the movement right now," Dallas said.
"This is just a chance to show people coming together in solidarity and hoping for a better future."Along with showcasing her new candles, Jackson said she hopes the Plaza District event will help build bridges in the community."In think our common ground can be arts and creativity," she said.
JUNETEENTH WEEKEND EVENTS
"Solidarity in the Plaza: Black Lives Matter": 5 to 10 p.m. Friday in the Plaza District. Information: www.facebook.com/plazadistrict.
Juneteenth Celebration: 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday outside Nappy Roots Books, 3705 Springlake Drive. Information: www.facebook.com/blacklivesmatterokc.
“I, Too, Am America: Juneteenth Rally for Justice": 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Tulsa's Greenwood District. Information: www.facebook.com/tulsajuneteenth.
Juneteenth Unity Walk: 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Guthrie's Scottish Rite Masonic Temple, 900 E Oklahoma Ave. Information: Search "Guthrie, OK Juneteenth Unity Parade" on Facebook.
To read more, visit The Oklahoman.
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