A downtown block party and an art exhibition with the theme “Threading the Fabric of Freedom” will highlight State College’s fourth annual Juneteenth commemoration this weekend.
The events celebrate the emancipation of the last remaining enslaved African Americans on June 19, 1865. Juneteenth became a state holiday in Pennsylvania in 2019 and a federal holiday in 2021.
Here’s a look at what’s planned around State College.
Thursday, June 15
At 2 p.m. on Thursday, a free livestream and panel discussion of the new documentary film “Juneteenth: Exploring Freedom Stories,” hosted by Penn State Outreach and Online Education and the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center, will examine the history of Juneteenth and its importance to the American idea of freedom.
Andrea “Ang” Reidell, director of outreach and curriculum for the Annenberg Public Policy Center’s Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics, and Richard D’Von Daily, a Penn State doctoral candidate in U.S. history and African American studies will moderate the panel discussion following the livestream.
Panelists will include Eric Foner, professor emeritus of history at Columbia University; Daina Ramey Berry, dean of humanities and fine arts at the University of California Santa Barbara; Justin Schwartz, Penn State executive vice president and provost, Penn State; and Cathleen D. Cahill, acting director of the George and Ann Richards Civil War Era Center, and professor of Middle-American history at Penn State.
The streaming event is free and open to the public. Register online.
Friday, June 16
Hosted by State College Chapter of the NAACP in partnership with Center for Performing Arts at Penn State, Happy Valley Adventure Bureau and State College Borough, State College’s annual Juneteenth celebration begins at 6 p.m. on Friday with a public opening reception for an art exhibition at the Woskob Family Gallery, 146 S. Allen St. The exhibition features works in a variety of media with a theme of “Threading the Fabric of Freedom.”
“It is important for us to add to the celebration of Juneteenth by including an art exhibition that allows individuals to express their thoughts about Juneteenth, about peace, equity and social justice,” Grace Hampton, curator and professor emerita of art and former vice provost at Penn State, said in a statement. “We are expecting artists from around the community and the country to contribute their works to the exhibition. We’ll be showcasing artists of different ages and backgrounds, and art works in a range of different genres.”
A diverse panel will serve as judges for the exhibition, which will include works from students in grades two through 12, along with adult artists. Certificates and awards will be announced at the opening reception.
The exhibition will be open 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday and will remain on display through June 21.
Edgar Farmer, Penn State professor emeritus of education, was the 2022 festival’s invited featured artist, and he was honored for his wood sculptures, including “An African Tribal King,” “My Queen,” and “Creation for Barbara.” A panel of judges awarded first prize to Fakeye Olaniyi from Osgobo, Nigeria, for “Nigerian Woman,” and to local artist Barry King for “Homage to Dr. Donna King.”
Saturday, June 17
The Juneteenth Block Party will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday on the 100 block of South Fraser Street and in the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza.
“We are so grateful to continue collaborating in solidarity with the State College NAACP, the State College Borough and all the partners involved in this community-wide event to celebrate Black liberation, entrepreneurship and creativity in central Pennsylvania”, Sita Frederick, director of the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State, said in a statement.
Performances will include a variety of musicians, poets and dancers. Headliners are Philadelphia-based drum-and-vocals duo McKie & Res and Baltimore-based jazz musician Warren Wolf.
The day also will feature food trucks, a market showcasing Black vendors and family-friendly activities. Community members will have the opportunity to help create a Story Quilt in conjunction with the celebration’s “Threading the Fabric of Freedom” theme.
“Historically, individuals worked in secret, armed with needle and thread, to create a visual language mapping the way to freedom,” Leslie Laing, State College NAACP education chair, said in a statement. “Shapes, symbols, textures and colors were often weaved together to celebrate family events such as marriage, a birth, keeping record of those we loved as they were sent to other places. Quilts like memories, and traditions are passed down from one generation to the next.”
Organizers encouraged community members to attend the weekend events.
“This celebration is important to the community and the values its members hold, and the State College Borough recognizes that,” Chiluvya Zulu, borough director of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, said in a statement. “Supporting the annual Juneteenth commemoration is one of the ways the Borough contributes toward building a diverse, inclusive and welcoming community and creates a sense of belonging.”
