
By Scott Etkin
There’s a wide range of Upper West Side events this week in honor of Juneteenth, the national holiday celebrated on June 19th to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.
Thursday marks the 160th anniversary of the day when word of the Union’s victory in the Civil War reached Galveston, Texas, where approximately 250,000 Black people were then freed from slavery. It’s the Galveston announcement, which took place more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, that inspired the Juneteenth holiday. More history on Juneteenth, which is also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, can be found – HERE.
And here’s a summary of the Juneteenth performances, shows, and gatherings scheduled for the Upper West Side this week:
Thursday, June 19th:
Juneteenth 4 Mile Run, Walk & Roll in Central Park: Back for the sixth year, this march through Central Park begins at 10 a.m., heading north along the East Drive, around the north end of Central Park, and then down the West Drive of the park. Refreshments. served at the finish line along the park’s Terrace Drive, continue into the afternoon. The entry fee is $25, with all proceeds going towards the Harlem Center, a facility for community-based organizations. Information on how to register is available – HERE.
Seneca Village Celebration in Central Park: The Central Park Conservancy is hosting a Juneteenth celebration in the area that used to be Seneca Village, the African-American community that was destroyed in 1857 when Central Park was built. From 12:30 to 3 p.m. at West 85th Street along the West Drive in the park, there will be a range of musical performances and poetry readings inspired by the people who lived there. Attendance is free. The celebration is part of the Conservancy’s ongoing work about Seneca Village’s history.
“Oh Sankofa!” at Lincoln Center: A free, two-part event is taking place at Lincoln Center (West 66th Street and Broadway), beginning at 6 p.m. in Hearst Plaza with performances evoking African and African-American folklore. The lineup includes music, choral performances, dance, animal tales, slave narratives, and educational fables. (Sankofa, of the event’s title, is a mythical “bird depicted with an egg in its beak, facing forward with its feet while looking back,” according to the event’s description.)
The show continues at 7:30 p.m. in Damrosch Park, where Black Theatre United will showcase multidisciplinary performances exploring how Juneteenth has been commemorated over the years, featuring African-American music across musical genres and eras.
Juneteenth Jubilee Roads & Pathways at Jazz at Lincoln Center: Another part of Lincoln Center, Dizzy’s Club, will feature Juneteenth-inspired jazz performances. C. Anthony Bryant, a vocalist and composer, headlines a three-act show of music and storytelling through “spirituals, gospel, spoken word, and Afro-futurist sounds.” Tickets are on sale for the 7 pm. show (HERE) and 9 p.m. show (HERE).
“Harriet” in Morningside Park: The day ends with a free, outdoor showing of the 2019 biopic “Harriet,” about abolitionist Harriet Tubman, who escaped from slavery and helped others navigate the Underground Railroad. The film will be shown at 8 p.m. on the lawn in Morningside Park (West 114th Street and Morningside Drive). This is part of the NYC Parks Department’s Movies Under the Stars series of outdoor film screenings.
Saturday, June 21:
Juneteenth Jazz Jubilee at the Society for Ethical Culture: Over the weekend, the celebration continues at 7 p.m. at the New York Society for Ethical Culture (West 64th Street and Central Park West). Music on the Inside, an organization that connects incarcerated people with professional musicians and music teachers, will perform the works of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Mahalia Jackson, and others. In-person and livestream tickets are available for purchase – HERE.
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I believe it was two YEARS — not weeks or months — after the Emancipation Proclamation liberated the slaves that the news hit Galveston, Texas. YEARS. Those Texans are still trying to enslave people. Now, it’s women and LGBTQ folk. The south keeps trying to rise again. The far right wing’s desire for body ownership needs to be squelched for good.
It is because of rants like this Trump won. Nice work, Sam.
Sam, Texans are trying to enslave people? really?