My Juneteenth Journey Continues

All American Freedom Day—that is the name and theme that Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes Jr has given to our upcoming Juneteenth celebration. The subtitle is: Only Together Are We Free—a provocative challenge, to be sure, and yet, a bold, compassionate statement that holds the highest regard for what we can achieve against a backdrop of strife and incivility.

Each year, I realize just how much I relish putting this program together because Rev. Forbes’ message is compelling in its honesty and urgent in its need. Last year, I shared how I came to reconnect with Rev. Forbes for his Juneteenth program. Caught off guard by the pandemic, we put our best effort into a first-time digital program.

This year, there has been a beautiful energy building as each speaker and artist said “Yes, count me in.” And so, as the program took shape and I looked at the flow and wrote out the script, it was Rev. Forbes’ words that molded and enveloped each moment. Those words manifest in every bar of music, each movement of dance, every spoken phrase. And they shine brilliantly through the work and spirit of the evening’s honorees.

The details are in the announcement below. I invite you to join us for an evening of reflection and celebration for Juneteenth 2021.