Celebrate Juneteenth!
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Juneteenth is a federal holiday that recognizes the 13th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This amendment outlawed the practice of enslaving people in America. For 246 years, generations of African American families were viewed as property, to be owned by another human being. Enslaved African Americans were bought, sold, separated from loved ones, forced to work without wages, and suffered inhumane conditions.
This year, Boston Children’s Museum celebrates Juneteenth with a variety of music, dance, and artmaking activities developed in collaboration with community organizations, independent artists, museum educators, and local entrepreneurs. Through these partnerships, the Museum highlights the ingenuity of African American artistic traditions born out of resistance. These practices continue to flourish and fuel modern day movements which advocate for the importance of speaking out against injustices of any kind.
Wednesday, June 19
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
FREEDOM TO CELEBRATE: Hamilton-Garrett Drumline Performance
Juneteenth celebrations kick-off the day with a dynamic performance and procession led by the Hamilton-Garrett Drumline! Established in 2022, the Hamilton-Garrett Drumline is a percussion and horn ensemble for Boston youth aged 10-18. Hamilton-Garrett’s mission is based on preserving and celebrating marching style drumming within Black musical traditions – pulling from the New Orleans second-line, historically Black colleges and universities, and African Diaspora folkloric traditions. Drumming has a lot of significance to the history of Juneteenth, when it was used during the Civil War as a form of resistance, and communication. Come experience this chorus of drums, and imagine what they might be communicating to each other!
Website: https://www.hamiltongarrett.
Instagram: @hgmusicarts
Wednesday, June 19
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Outside Plaza (near the Milk Bottle)
FREEDOM TO MOVE: Dance Party with A Trike Called Funk, featuring Boston Rhythm Riders Join us outside on the plaza for this pop-up dance party, led by MC & Dance Lead Aaron Myers and DJ EdWord Galan, playing funky music that will inspire you to bust a move – or learn a new one! With a special appearance from Boston Rhythm Riders, children and adults alike can learn footwork to a line dance – like the Electric Slide!
This event is free and open to the public. Admission to the Museum is not required to attend.
A Trike Called Funk is a Boston-based creative venture co-founded in July 2021 by MC & Dance Lead Aaron Myers and DJ Edward Galan. In collaboration with local artists specializing in complementary types of music and dance, A Trike Called Funk orchestrates participatory dance experiences around a customized cargo tricycle, which is equipped with its own portable dance floor, power source, DJ equipment, and sound system. A Trike Called Funk not only performs and entertains, but teaches and engages all ages, with the aim of unleashing creativity, and building community everywhere you can pedal & park.
Website: https://www.atrikecalledfunk.
Boston Rhythm Riders is a fun and fitness-based organization that offers line dancing classes for all ages. Whether you’re looking to enhance your social life, or simply staying active, their classes are your perfect rhythm!
Website: https://bostonrhythmriders.
Instagram: @bostonrhythmridersldm
Wednesday, June 19
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Art Lab
FREEDOM TO SAY IT OUT LOUD: Sharing Our Dreams for a Better Future Art Workshop
Freedom began with a dream! Led by the Museum’s Senior Educator of Equity, Empathy and Identity, this workshop celebrates the culmination of nearly 250 years of dreams that were spoken, shouted, sung, written, and illustrated, until people all over the country became allies in our collective fight for freedom. Join us in the Art Lab to draw YOUR dreams for a better future and share them with your community.
Wednesday, June 19
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
KidStage
FREEDOM TO IMAGINE: Jazz Urbane’s Imagine Orchestra Concert
Music is a universal language. Through music we can time travel to different places and time. Music is our natural environment, the sounds we take in when we pause, listen and question. Music helps us discover new worlds, or make our own world, and learn how to share it with others. Music is color, emotion, energy, rhythm, texture, and imagination. Music is good noise that inspires a freedom to imagine.
The Imagine Orchestra is a chamber jazz ensemble, with a unique approach to traditional concerts, where the music is both fully orchestrated and improvised in the moment. This ensemble represents how artists come to collaborate and “imagine” what the music whispers to musicians to reach for.
Website: https://www.jazzurbanecafe.
Instagram: @jazzurbane_