“This is my power,” they all cried. “Listen, listen, listen. Don’t forget.”
New Yorkers of all ages, places and races gathered at African Burial Grounds National Monument to celebrate Juneteenth, which marks the emancipation of American slaves.
The event spotlighted Black-owned businesses, Pan-African performance groups and voter registration tables, reminding the community of its horrific past while highlighting a strong warning for the future.
“Selective amnesia creates an identity crisis,” Wema Lagofala said beneath the memorial. “We will never stop liberating.”
Lagofara founded Bridges: A Pan-African Arts Movement, which blends global art with community and advocacy. Bridges presented an Afrofuturist performance piece titled “Listen,” which blends poetry, instrumentation, dance and vocals.
Everyone who came to Bridges’ booth at the event was given a Liberation Crown, a handmade paper crown emblazoned with the words “Liberation” and “Freedom.” The group created a blank poster board with a sun in the center and invited everyone to add their own dose of sunshine for future generations. Sayings like “Joy! Live in Joy” and “You are the light the world needs” adorned the tables.
“We have kids in front of the microphone, and we need to let them speak,” Lagofara said, calling on a young participant wearing a crown to come forward and lead the crowd in “The Song of Liberation.” The group continued by singing “Remember, Listen, Learn.”
George Roper looked back to a time when books starring black superheroes had titles like “Jungle Action” and characters spoke jive.
“we, [Black people]”That’s why I started Black Comic Books Express, a New York-based bookstore, to fill the void in Black superhero representation,” he said.
A booth at a bookstore on Long Island displayed comics that used “blaxploitation,” Roper said. In one old comic, Lois Lane hops into Superman’s car and changes race for a day to see what life would be like if she was black. After changing race, she speaks slang and roams around Harlem. This would never be socially acceptable today, Roper said.
“We wanted to introduce characters that reflect our experiences and what we look like,” Roper says. “It’s important to see someone you can identify with.”
With temperatures reaching above 90°F (32°C), crowds gathered with fans and umbrellas in hand, making this free celebration a positive experience for everyone.
“It’s such an honor to be able to honor my ancestors and celebrate their struggles,” said Robin Laurent, a spectator who made the journey to the Lower Manhattan venue.
The African Cemetery was designated a national monument in 2007, making it the first cemetery in the United States dedicated to African and African-American residents of early New York.
“Black history is American history,” said park ranger Emily Welch.
Recent graduates from Brooklyn’s Uncommon Leadership Charter High School sat at a New York City civic engagement table encouraging people to pledge and register to vote.
“There are a lot of policies that we don’t agree with,” student Christine Kernizan said, “and the only way to change that is to register to vote.”
Under the hot sun, Yashua Emmanuel sat on a simple folding chair, playing the flute close to where Bridges was playing.
“I [today] “Resources, abundance, knowledge and prosperity are what matter to all of us,” Bridges said, as the audience began chanting, “Resources, abundance, knowledge and prosperity.”
“We make a difference,” they said. “We are resilient. We are powerful.”
