June 17, 2021
This weekend, people across the country and around the world are celebrating Juneteenth, a holiday honoring the emancipation of African Americans enslaved in the United States, marking the end of slavery, and recognizing the accomplishments and achievements of African Americans.
For a quick overview about this important day, and one you can share with young audiences, check out this PBS All About the Holidays video:
Check out this list of our favorite ways to celebrate this weekend!
VISIT A MUSEUM: TAKE A VIDEO TOUR OF THE “SLAVERY AND FREEDOM” EXHIBITION
The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture presents a video tour of the exhibition “Slavery and Freedom,” led by the Museum’s founding director, Lonnie Bunch III, highlighting stories from some of their most popular artifacts and objects. Their website notes, “The legacy of Juneteenth shows the value of deep hope and urgent organizing in uncertain times. This Museum is a community space where that spirit can continue to live on – where histories like this one can surface, and new stories with equal urgency can be told.”
GO TO A FESTIVAL: CHECK OUT THE CLEVELAND JUNETEETH FREEDOM FEST
All you have to do is Google things to do in Cleveland on June 19 and you’ll find a plethora of events and activities from bike rides to business expos. Churches and synagogues are offering community services, and arts and culture organizations are hosting live music, dance classes, and visual art shows. There’s even a game night! But, as far as we can tell there’s only one place that will include fireworks and that’s the MetroHealth Cleveland Juneteenth Freedom Fest. You won’t want to miss this extraordinary celebration featuring performances by Karamu House, and so much more!
TURN ON THE TV: WATCH A JUNETEENTH SPECIAL PROGRAM ON TELEVISION
This weekend, you can choose from a wide variety of television programs and streaming video specials. We found this awesome list on Deadline.com to help you decide which one is the most interesting for you. Hollywood celebrities, Broadway artists, respected journalists, and political dignitaries come together for performances, interviews, and more. Which show will you be watching?
EXPLORE BLACK STORIES: DON’T MISS THESE DOCUMENTARIES
Documentaries are a powerful way to explore personal stories. At the Maltz Museum we are fortunate to see a glimpse into the complex lives of young people who are standing up and speaking out against discrimination through our annual Stop the Hate essay writing contest. This list of 15 Black Documentaries to Stream for Juneteenth is from Teen Vogue, so we think teens and adults alike can watch and learn from these noteworthy films.
KEEP LEARNING: REGISTER FOR “THE STATE OF HATE: MARKING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE KU KLUX KLAN ACT” ON JUNE 27 AT 3PM, FREE & ONLINE
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Ku Klux Klan Act, also known as the Civil Rights Act of 1871. Yet violent acts of racism, antisemitism, and xenophobia fill our news channels and media feeds with increasing alarm, begging this question: How has our country really changed in 150 years?
On Sunday, June 27, at 3pm, join featured speaker Avery Friedman, a premiere civil rights attorney and CNN commentator, to understand how hate groups like the KKK rise to power, what role they play in American culture today, and how the law is used to protect victims of hate. Then, Leon Bibb, primetime news anchor for WKYC in Cleveland, takes the conversation even deeper, with a one-on-one interview on the state of hate. Plus, hear special remarks from Marcia Fudge, the 18th Secretary of U.S. Housing and Urban Development.
We are proud to present this program in partnership with ACLU of Ohio, ADL Cleveland, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law – Cleveland State University, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences | Cleveland State University, Facing History and Ourselves, Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research, NAACP- Cleveland Branch, Ohio Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education, The Nancy and David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center, SCLC Cleveland Chapter, and US Department of HUD
We’re taking a tour of the world and all of its offerings to curate cultural connections aligned with our museum’s mission and values. Join us as we explore exhibits, art, film, literature, lectures and more.
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