Juneteenth Celebration 2023
Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes Jr. / Martha & Pinkie Yates, daughters of Rev. Jack Yates Antioch Baptist Church, Houston going to Juneteenth Celebration 1908*
Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes Jr. is a man of deep faith and conviction. Serving as the Senior Minister of The Riverside Church on New York’s upper Westside for seventeen years, Rev. Forbes’ ministry focused passionately on the fight for a more just society. His vision for equity, economic justice, and inclusion were the hallmarks of his leadership of one of the largest multicultural and interdenominational congregations in the United States. I interviewed with Rev. Forbes for a position at Riverside in 1997 and subsequently began my fifteen-tenure leading the Riverside Theatre and curating the arts festivals.
Believing deeply that Juneteenth should be recognized nationally, in 2015 Rev. Forbes launched a Juneteenth Celebration to carry forward his vision and memorialize Juneteenth as “All American Freedom Day.” Juneteenth has now become a signature program of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, a national network that serves thousands of pastors, lay leaders, and the next generation of those working for social justice.
We are in a serious condition of polarization and division. We are at a point in history where an event like Juneteenth helps us recognize our unity amidst our ethnic diversity. We come together to remember the awful horrors of the past, but to indicate that this will no longer characterize us as a people. How blessed America is to have a national holiday commemorating freedom and justice at a time we so desperately need to renew our passion for democracy. Juneteenth is a God-given call to reclaim the true meaning of the American dream and celebrate a new future.
--Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes Jr.
I have had the honor of producing the Juneteenth Celebration for the past five years in association with Carnegie Hall. A valuable partner, Carnegie’s leadership is committed to Dr. Forbes’ vision and has worked collaboratively to bring Juneteenth to a national audience. Our Spirit Alive Awards have recognized the dedication and work of Opal Lee, Sonia Sanchez, Robert E. Smith, Chairman, Carnegie Hall, Bryan Stevenson, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Bishop Michael B. Curry, Bree Newsome Bass, Carmen Perez, and other notable individuals.
Our theme for this year’s Celebration, on Monday, June 19, is “Renewing Passion for Freedom and Democracy.” We will honor those who fought for freedom in our Legacy Tribute—in the days when uttering such a thought could be a death sentence. We will also honor contemporary freedom fighters who exemplify this theme by presenting Spirit Alive Awards to human rights advocate and attorney Gay McDougall, civil rights activist Dr. James Lawson, and the Carter Center.
A poet and songwriter himself, Dr. Forbes knows the power of the arts to connect and stir hearts. Every year we bring exemplary artists to the Perelman Stage of Stern Auditorium. This year, the lineup includes: 10-time Grammy winning a cappella group Take 6, pianist Joseph Joubert, dynamic trio The String Queens, intergenerational vocal ensemble Ebony Ecumenical Ensemble, critically acclaimed dance company Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn, Academy and Grammy Award-nominated youth ensemble IMPACT Repertory Theatre Performance Company, and the Poet Laureate of the 2023 New York State Gubernatorial Inaugural Ceremonies Kayden Hern.
Hearing the voices from our community is a vital part of bringing the significance of Juneteenth to our audiences. We will present their videos affirming the importance of Juneteenth during the program. This year, we’ll add six iconic voices who will also express their sentiments about Juneteenth. Click on the image above to hear from Claude McKnight, Mark Kibble, Joel Kibble, Dave Thomas, and Alvin Chea—better known as Take 6.
We invite you to join us for an exciting evening of healing and hope, challenge and rededication, along with an abundance of joy. RSVP for up to four free tickets by visiting juneteenthus.info.
*Image credit: MSS0281-PH037, Juneteenth Celebration Reverend Jack Yates and the Antioch Baptist Church Collection, Houston Public Library, African American History Research Center
