Juneteenth wasn’t a big part of my growing up in NYC. Actually, didn’t even hear the phrase until I was in college. And if I’m completely honest, it was probably on Chappelle Show that I first heard the term Juneteenth (“Happy Reparations Day! Happy Juneteenth! !” One of his greatest sketches in my opinion.)  I’d be lying if I pretended that learning about it made me start celebrating it and actively thinking about what the first slaves being freed in Texas on June 19^th 1865 means in the grand scheme of things. As I’ve tried to craft this series of blog posts on the subject, I’ve found myself considering the various ways slavery has been re-imagined in our country. I mean, I was trying to write at the peak of the Cincinnati zoo debacle with the young child falling into the gorilla pit. Of course the mother was vilified immediately because everyone is a perfect parent until they have kids. But once they discovered that the family was BLACK? ::in my best New Orleans voice:: Baaayyybeh. They went to diggin’. Brought up dad’s past, which I assure you had nothing to do with the price of tea in China. The police department was considering to bring the parents up on charges for something that really could have happened to any number of parents, and has, some ending in fatalities. And then a few days later, I’m inundated with articles about Brock Turner, a white male who raped an unconscious woman behind a dumpster, was found guilty by all members of the jury, but had his sentence reduced from six years to six months because the judge thought he was just a good ol’ boy whose life shouldn’t be ruined by this. I see those things happen within days of each other, and all five senses tell me that we are slaves to public opinion.

I considered all of this, and came to the conclusion that, while I’m certain that my observations are valid, that I’d rather connect with Juneteenth in a way that is genuine to me.  So, over the course of this month, I’ll be reflecting and exploring the liberation of black artists and their work in our present day climate and fortunate for us, the month of June is proving to be bountiful. You can look forward to my musings on The Formation World Tour with Beyonce (Citifield),  War by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (Lincoln Center), Romeo and Juliet starring Misty Copeland (American Ballet Theatre), and a panel on Art and Social Justice  with Ta-Nehisi Coates, Sonia Sanchez and Toni Morrison (Stella Adler Studio). In the words of Future: “Man. What a time. To be alive!”

Happy Juneteenth.

– Sheyenne