Experience Juneteenth in metro Detroit!

Juneteenth is here and there is much to celebrate, learn and reflect on.

First, a little background on this holiday. When the Emancipation Proclamation became official in 1863, President Lincoln also, declared an end to slavery in the southern states. However, the enslaved people of Texas remained unaware of this monumental legislation until two years later, on June 19, 1865.

On June 17, 2021, President Biden, signed a bill inaugurating June 19th as Juneteenth National Independence Day, a nationally recognized US federal holiday.

Here in Detroit, Juneteenth will continue to be celebrated through various expressions and spaces making room for everyone to learn, experience, and get involved in community engagements. From festivals to movie screenings, retail specials, art exhibits and more, there’s something for everyone to dive into:

The Detroit Regional Chamber shares why and how Celebrating Juneteenth Matters for Everyone.

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is celebrating the holiday all weekend long with the Juneteenth Jubilee Freedom Weekend. Catch a movie screening of “Summer of Soul” at Campus Martius, the Jubilee Stroll on the Avenue of Fashion, or a self-guided treasure hunt highlighting local Black history.

Join The Wright in virtual presentations and discussions throughout the year as they share parts of their well-known core exhibit, And Still We Rise. This presentation will focus on Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) and will be a fitting prelude to their annual Juneteenth celebration. They will explore Douglas’ views on freedom, and take a close look at his notable speech about Independence Day, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” (1852).

Group tour of CHW museum and new exhibits.

In honor of Juneteenth, LoveClub has invited a selection of Detroit’s best local talent to celebrate black history, art, and culture. With a wide range of musical offerings from house to hip-hop and beyond, as well as a host of creatives, vendors, and organizations presenting their work, the event is meant to serve as a platform for artists, attendees, and community members to contribute to a shared space of reflection and mutual empowerment.

The 2nd Annual Juneteenth Dearborn Heights Cultural Festival event is back again to celebrate the heritage, freedom, and excellence of African Americans with a day of live entertainment, food, & fun! This event is free and open to the public.

The East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority will be hosting its free second annual celebration, the Juneteenth Mobility Stroll & Roll, as part of its Homage to Black Excellence programs. The event will include a 2.2-mile walk and roll, an Art and Chocolate Block Part, and more!

Emagine Entertainment’s Juneteenth Film Festival is to honor Black actors/actresses, writers, directors, and filmmakers through films that present compelling moral stories and educate on racism and Black history. The film festival is from June 3-30, 2022 showcasing a different set of films each week. The festival will take place in Michigan at Emagine Royal Oak. Tickets are only $5 and all proceeds will go to UNCF.

Celebrate freedom at the 2022 Madison Heights Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 18 at Civic Center Park (13 Mile & John R). The festival – hosted by Madison Heights Citizens United – will feature free concerts (Raydio featuring Arnell Carmichael, Smoke Jones Detroit Band, The IV Horsemen, Diamond Paige DeYampert and the Brazeal Dennard Chorale & Artistic Director Alice McAllister Tillman), food trucks, vendor booths, educational exhibits, oral storytelling, children’s activities, rib contest, a reading of General Order No. 3 and more!

 

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Since 2019, The Curators of Black Excellence has hosted the Juneteenth Family Reunion as a safe, inter-generational family-focused event featuring the best in Black culture, food, and entertainment. Enjoy a full day of entertainment, education, and empowerment on Saturday, June 18, in the city of Southfield and celebrate Juneteenth!

In celebration of the Juneteenth holiday, Cranbrook Art Museum gallery admission will be free for all. Explore our current exhibitions including Tunde Olanrian: Made a Universe, Tyrrell Winston: A Tiger’s Stripes, and Whatever Gets You Through the Night: Selections from the Mott-Warsh Collection.

At this year’s Jazzin’ at the Vanity music festival on Saturday, June 18 and Sunday, June 19, festivalgoers can expect two fun-filled days of live jazz and blues performances by some of the biggest names in the city. Jazzin’ at the Vanity will provide a variety of food and dessert trucks for all to enjoy, while also incorporating the East Jefferson Marketplace featuring an abundance of retail vendors and pop-up shops. Festivalgoers can enjoy Juneteenth-inspired live art installations featuring the work of the city’s most-hailed muralists. Jazzin’ at the Vanity will also feature Kids Village, where children can enjoy face painting, arts and crafts, carnival games, circus performers, and Box City urban planning youth engagement activities designed to teach kids about city planning, architecture structure, and styles.