Resources for Juneteenth 2021

Mission and Values
Written By Chatham University

Juneteenth is an annual celebration marking the anniversary of June 19, 1865, the day that Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas to share the news of the Emancipation Proclamation, and enslaved African Americans learned that they were free. Juneteenth has long been celebrated and recognized as a holiday in East Texas, and more recently, the celebration has gained greater recognition and adoption across the country. This is the first year Pittsburgh has recognized Juneteenth as a city holiday and this week a bill was passed designating June 19 as a federal holiday.

The contributors to Pulse@ChathamU would like to acknowledge that while we share in the joy of seeing this meaningful holiday gain wider recognition, many people feel that making Juneteenth a national holiday without addressing our country’s systemic racism is mere lip service. We offer this guide to events and resources not with the intention of ignoring this very valid sentiment, but to provide educational and cultural opportunities for our Chatham community to learn, grow, and celebrate together. Below you’ll find a list of resources and events that celebrate Black culture and experience in America:

Pittsburgh Events

Art as Liberation: Celebrating Black Art in Pittsburgh
June 18 // 4 pm – 8 pm // 318 Sampsonia Way

Participants in Pittsburgh’s 2018 Juneteenth Festival. Photo c/o the Western Pennsylvania Juneteenth Celebration Facebook page

In honor of Juneteenth, 1Hood Media will host an outdoor celebration of Black art in Pittsburgh at the Sampsonia Way Tent. Join us for an afternoon of music, performances, a visual art fair, and free food. Free to attend and no reservations required. Learn more at the link.

WPA Juneteenth Freedom Days Celebration
June 18 - June 20 // 11 am – 9 pm // Point State Park
June 18: Battle of the Band Showcase
June 19: Legendary Hip Hop & R&B Showcase
June 20: Classic Soul Showcase

This is a celebration of all cities and boroughs in Allegheny County featuring Black music genres, youth programs, African American cultural education, food trucks, speakers, and a variety of music showcases. See the complete lineup here.

Juneteenth Youth Fest
June 18 - June 20 // 9 am – 4 pm // Mellon Park

Hosted by WPA Juneteenth, the Youth Fest will be held at Mellon Park. The Youth Fest is for children and youth ages 6-17 and will include a flag football tournament, basketball tournament, fun zone, deck hockey experience, and more. Learn more about Youth Fest.

Pittsburgh Black Music Festival
June 24 - June 27 // Point State Park
June 24: Jazz Day
June 25: Gospel Day
June 26: RnB Day
June 27: Soul Day

Join us for a music festival with live bands, food vendors, speakers, youth activities, national entertainment, and more. Click here for the complete music festival line up.

Juneteenth Grand Jubilee Parade in Downtown Pittsburgh
June 26 // 10 am – 1 pm // Downtown Pittsburgh

Join in the celebration of the passing of the 13th and 15th Amendments, the right to vote and the end of slavery, respectively, with a reenactment of the 1870 Jubilee of Freedmen Parade in Downtown Pittsburgh! Learn more about the Grand Jubilee Parade

Historian, Annette Gordon-Reed is the Carl M. Loeb University Professor at Harvard. She has won sixteen book prizes, including the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. She recently published a book, On Juneteenth, which she discusses on NPR Fresh Air.

Learn more about the history of Juneteenth

Looking to learn more about the history and traditions of Juneteenth? Check out some of these educational resources below:

Another great way to honor Juneteenth is shopping at Black-owned businesses; check out this list here. To learn more about Chatham’s ongoing work to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion on our campuses, click here.

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