Juneteenth has a longer history than perhaps most people believe. The holiday is rooted in the delayed emancipation of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, where word of freedom and the abolishment of slavery did not hit until June 19, 1865, when Union troops freed enslaved African Americans—more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863.
Also known as Freedom Day, Emancipation Day or America’s second Independence Day, President Joe Biden made Juneteenth official in June 2021—spurred by widespread calls for social justice and a growing national enthusiasm to commemorate a pivotal moment in American history.
Local music, food, and dance will set the scene for MidTown Cleveland’s Juneteenth event in .Jin Hough.Numerous Cleveland organizations, with support from creative arts nonprofit Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC), are finalizing their Juneteenth celebrations as the June 19 observance approaches. CAC executive director Jill Paulsen says Juneteenth gatherings across Cleveland are an opportunity to reflect on the continued impact of racial bias in the U.S.
“Through the arts, we can work together for freedom for all—while at the same time celebrating the power and creativity of Black-led arts organizations in our midst,” says Paulsen. “Storytelling, music, and art from nonprofits like Djapo Cultural Arts Institute and projects done through MidTown Cleveland and Ursuline College make sure this national holiday continues to shine bright.”
Keeping it ‘together’
Juneteenth is woven into the cultural fabric of Djapo Cultural Arts Institute, a Cleveland nonprofit focused on preserving African diasporic music, dance, history, and folklore.
The West African word “Djapo,” meaning “together,” beautifully complements the liberation theme central to this year’s Juneteenth celebration, says executive artistic director Talise Campbell.
Taking place on Saturday, June 14 and Sunday, June 15, Djapo’s weekend-long festival touts a packed entertainment schedule that includes live music from Apostle Jones, the velvety, Lo-fi sounds of Nathan-Paul, spoken word presentations, and African dance and drum workshops, just to name a few.
Cleveland Heights’ Cain Park and Pivot Center for Art, Dance and Expression in Ohio City will be hosting the events.
Recognizing that excursions to West Africa aren’t accessible to everybody, Djapo director Campbell has made it a point to bring those experiences to Cleveland. Along with curated spaces dedicated to dance, poetry and music at the event, guests can enjoy a marketplace of culturally relevant foods—like hushpuppies—along with racks of hand-crafted apparel.
Campbell says she hopes visitors can connect to dance workshops, as well as reenactments of that long-ago day in Texas when 250,000 slaves learned of their freedom.
“The festival is an intentional space for cultural memory and ancestral reverence,” says Campbell. “All this work ties us to our legacy and continues to tell the story of liberation in real time.”
CAC’s grant funding enables Djapo to provide this programming, a connection Campbell deeply values.
“With Juneteenth, our programming promotes equity, education and healing,” says Campbell. “We’re fostering a continuing dialogue and collective well-being across Northeast Ohio.”
Hats on
Ursuline College is partnering with the City of Pepper Pike for a Juneteenth celebration of pulse-pounding music, delicious food and…magnificent headgear?
church hats from the collections of Ursuline staffers Veda Rawlings and Ellen Berts.Guests attending the Saturday, June 14 gathering on Ursuline’s campus are encouraged to wear their favorite chapeaus in honor of a special showcase of church hats from the collections of staffers Veda Rawlings and Ellen Berts.
The exhibition from two former “first ladies” of area churches will be complemented by works from Northeast Ohio artists, notes Ursuline gallery director Anna Arnold.
“As a child, I remember my mom and grandmother dressing up for church and wearing hats, and I thought this would be fascinating for a show,” Arnold says. “People can’t wait to wear their favorite hats to honor their family members.”
Church hats will adorn appropriately dressed mannequins, with shots of the display posted on Ursuline’s Flickr photo-sharing website. Yolanda King, Ursuline’s assistant vice president for diversity, inclusion and belonging, says such vibrant attire symbolizes the progress Black people have achieved in the face of discrimination.
“There’s a sense of pride that began during slavery when people didn’t have a nice church outfit,” says King. “We are pulling that [idea] through with this exhibition.”
King adds that Ursuline is also reinforcing its larger commitment to support the wider community with Juneteenth.
“This celebration is about Juneteenth, but we’re also providing an immersive experience for everyone in the region,” she says.
A powerful combination
MidTown Cleveland crafted its Juneteenth event along with Hough neighborhood residents. Organizers say the collaboration is a nod to a predominantly Black neighborhood eager for revitalization—particularly with the development of Black Avenue, a Hough-based project centered on Black life, art, and entrepreneurship along East 55th, East 66th, and East 75th streets.
MidTown Juneteenth drummers“One of the things we’ve heard from the community is there needs to be more joy, more celebration—more spaces for Black entrepreneurs and artists to have a platform,” says Anthony Giambroni, Midtown’s director of community engagement. “How do we support business owners in the neighborhood, and find ways to give them exposure while keeping money in Hough?”
Local music, food, and art will set the scene for the Saturday, June 14 event, which is a day dedicated to a challenging history and, ideally, paves the way for a brighter future. CAC funding plays a role in this broader effort, specifically by supporting this year’s Juneteenth celebration, Giambroni says.
“The beauty of Hough is through the talent of its artists and businesses,” he says. “There’s a lot of good human capital here, and this event is to put that on display. MidTown’s mission is to grow the community we serve, but to do so in a way that reflects the dreams of our community members.”
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