Juneteenth Weekend 2021

Friday, June 18

Caravan

For the second year in a row, I had the honor of joining the Juneteenth Holiday Citywide Caravan, a collaboration between the National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum, The Black Mall, and Black Culture Week. Participants took a historic tour through Black Chicago neighborhoods from the westside to the southeast side. According to David Peterson, the museum’s President and Executive Director, Juneteenth means acknowledging the atrocities of slavery; the need to celebrate our history and culture; and the fact that American descendants of slavery are due reparations. “This is an opportunity for us to remember, respect, and move forward,” Peterson said. Partnerships are in the works within the Pullman district and with other organizations to strengthen the impact.

​Saturday, June 19

DuSable Museum Reopening

“Freedom is a tradition that shouldn’t be for sale, but our ancestors have paid with their lives, careers, and reputations,” stated visual artist Kwame Akoto Bamfo during his speech at DuSable Museum’s Juneteenth reopening ceremony. “You are enjoying Juneteenth as a federal holiday because you are benefiting from that tradition. Bamfo ended his speech by having the audience raise fists and proclaim, “I am the embodiment of the freedom tradition!” His Black Slate Monument, a sculpture with an ever-changing digital message, was unveiled at the close of the ceremony.

Harold Washington Cultural Center

M.A.D.D. Rhythms, Blu Rhythm Crew, and The Happiness Club entertained the crowd outside during Harold Washington Cultural Center’s Juneteenth celebration., M.A.D.D. Rhythms Assistant Director Star Dixon presented a demonstration with students from Tap for Tots. She created the program to teach the little ones to “express themselves by speaking through their feet using tap dance.” Speaking of the designation of Juneteenth as a national holiday, Bril Barrett, Executive Director of M.A.D.D. Rhythms stated, “It just validates what we already knew in the community. Juneteenth is a special day.” Still, the fight continues to pass bills that address justice in policing, voter suppression, and other issues

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Black United Fund of Illinois (BUFI)

I ended my day in South Shore at the Juneteenth celebration presented by BUFI, an organization that works to improve the quality of life for African Americans through self-sufficiency. I sat back and relaxed in my lawn chair while listening to smooth jazz sounds until it was time to go.

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