A coalition of local organizations, including the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP, the Marian Cheek Jackson Center, and Chapel Hill’s Community Arts and Culture department, are inviting the community to participate in Chapel Hill-Carrboro’s first annual Juneteenth celebrations.

Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. The Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro proclaimed the observance and commemoration of Juneteenth on June 19, 2020, however, this year, the towns are hosting a variety of arts performances, history exhibits, and interactive events.

Juneteenth celebrations will kick off Friday, June 18 at 7 p.m. with a virtual video premiere. The program will last about 30 minutes and will feature remarks and performances from local leaders, poets, and artists.

The virtual kickoff will also mark the start of an exclusive, virtual concert series from local Black musicians – one of which is Durham-based rap artist, and director of arts and culture for the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership, Kevin “Kaze” Thomas.

“I’ve been a member of this music and creative community off and on for over 20 years,” Thomas said. “I may not be number one on the billboard, but my music and art is relevant to our community and that they felt that it was important that I perform as a representation of the type of art that comes from where we are – that was huge.”

Thomas said these celebrations are a chance for the towns to amplify the voices of Black community members and to celebrate Black culture and heritage.

“We have a huge Black business community in Chapel Hill that people would be surprised to see how Black business we have represented and just how much talent and creativity that we have in our music and our art community – and then the history,” Thomas said. “It’s just a moment to highlight what has been under-highlighted in Orange and Chapel Hill and Carrboro – the contributions of our Black and brown citizens in our town towards what people love about Chapel Hill.”

Ahead of Juneteenth celebrations next weekend, residents are able to learn more about local Black history with several pop-up exhibits.

Celebrate the contributions of Black women in Chapel Hill’s history by visiting the “I Was Still Singing” exhibit. Located on 109 E. Franklin Street, next to Epilogue Books, the exhibit will be open to the public June 12-13 and June 16-20 from 1-7 p.m.

Also available to the public is an audio tour through one of Chapel Hill’s historically Black neighborhoods. Hosted by the Marian Cheek Jackson Center, “Histories of Home: A Walk with Northside Neighbors” features the voices of over a dozen Northside community members as they share their stories, struggles, and aspirations.

Residents are also encouraged to support Black-owned businesses, learn Black history, and win prizes in the #BuyBlackCHC Virtual Scavenger Hunt, held from June 14-20.

Melissa Bartoletta, the marketing and communications coordinator for Chapel Hill’s Community Arts and Culture department, said the scavenger hunt is hosted by the Chapel-Hill Carrboro NAACP and will include in-person, curbside/pickup, and virtual options.

“They discovered a really cool platform called GooseChase and it’s through this application that we can host a digital scavenger hunt to encourage people to support and buy Black during the weekend,” Bartoletta said.

Finally on Saturday, June 19 at 3:30 p.m., a Juneteenth motorcade will be held through some of Chapel Hill and Carrboro’s historic Black communities – including the Rogers Road and Northside neighborhood.

Bartoletta said a motorcade seemed like the perfect in-person event to encourage community involvement and engagement while still being cognizant of pandemic concerns.

“Since we started really planning Juneteenth, there has been a lot of changes that have happened in the COVID world, but when this anchor of a in-person thing came we were like ‘okay a motorcade is something we can do,’” Bartoletta said. “It can be safe and socially-distant, and it doesn’t take too much effort if things were to turn or get weird again with COVID.”

Later that day the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership will also host a Juneteenth Save the Music Series, where four African American artists will be scattered throughout Franklin Street playing music from 6-8 p.m.

Other organizations involved in the planning of Chapel Hill-Carrboro’s Juneteenth celebrations include the Chapel Hill Public Library, EmPOWERment Inc. and the CHCCS Office of Equity and Inclusion.

Lead photo via Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture.


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