The Rhode Island Black Heritage Society (RIBHS) and Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) are teaming up to celebrate Juneteenth with events spotlighting Black freedom and the rich history of African heritage and Indigenous peoples in Rhode Island.
From June 19-20, 2025, Newport will host storytelling, lectures, and an exhibition organized by these groups.
Kicking off the celebration on June 19, Valerie Tutson from Rhode Island Black Storytellers will present “Stories and Songs in Celebration of Black Freedom” at Rough Point.
That evening, Rhode Island’s State Historian Laureate Keith W. Stokes will give a talk at the Jane Pickens Theater titled “A Matter of Truth Newport: Chronicling 400 Years of Resilience in Newport, Rhode Island (1620-2020).”
The main event is the opening of the “A Matter of Truth-Newport” exhibition at Vernon House on June 20. This exhibit showcases items and stories from RIBHS’s collections, celebrating how people of color have contributed to Newport’s architectural and cultural heritage.
The exhibition covers topics like the displacement of Indigenous peoples, enslavement of African heritage peoples, Newport’s Gilded Age, and how 20th-century urban renewal affected the area.
You can visit the “A Matter of Truth-Newport” exhibition from June 20 to Sept. 28, 2025, at Vernon House in Newport. It’s open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, but you’ll need to book a timed entry slot online.
June 19th, 1:30 PM
Rought Point, 680 Bellevue Ave, Newport, “Stories and Songs in Celebration of Black Freedom” a dynamic performance by Valerie Tutson of the Rhode Island Black Storytellers. Through powerful narratives and songs, Tutson will bring to life the enduring spirit, resilience, and cultural traditions of Black communities. Tickets for this free program are available at newportrestoration.org/events.
June 19th, 5:30 PM
Jane Pickens Theater, 49 Touro St. Newport. “A Matter of Truth Newport: Chronicling 400 Years of Resilience in Newport, Rhode Island (1620-2020)” a talk by Keith W. Stokes — Rhode Island’s State Historian Laureate and co-author of A Matter of Truth — will deliver a thought-provoking talk on the ongoing journey toward truth, justice, and equity. Stokes’ presentation will offer historical insights and personal reflections on Rhode Island’s 400-year history of racial discrimination and resilience. Tickets available at https://janepickens.com/.
June 20th, 11:00AM-4:00PM
Vernon House, 46 Clarke St., Newport. Opening of A Matter of Truth-Newport, an exhibition celebrating the contributions and resiliency of African heritage and Indigenous peoples in Newport, Rhode Island.Inspired by the book A Matter of Truth: The Struggle for African Heritage & Indigenous People Equal Rights in Providence, Rhode Island (1620-2020), this exhibition, through objects and narratives from RIBHS’s extensive collections, celebrates the indelible contributions of people of color to the rich legacy of Newport’s architectural and cultural heritage.
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