Join Juneteenth on the East celebrations this weekend
Oklahoma City’s eastside will host With Love OKC’s third annual Juneteenth on the East celebration, June 17-19. The three-day festival will feature live music, a 5k race, interactive murals, dance performances, spoken word, food trucks, educational tents, and local vendors.
Grammy Award-winning artist Mýa will headline the weekend’s live music performances on Saturday, June 18. The singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress released her eponymous debut album in 1998, which was later certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, jolting her into the forefront of the Pop and R&B music scenes.
The Juneteenth on the East headliner has continued to release music throughout the following decades, securing a spot on Billboard’s “Hot 100 Artists of the 2000s” list. After receiving a Grammy for her collaborative efforts on “Lady Marmalade” in 2002, Mýa received her third Grammy nomination in 2016 for her concept album “Smoove Jones.”
The performer has also received two MTV Music Video Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and modeled for Maxim magazine’s “Hot 100” list in 2003 and 2004.
Upcoming artist Che Noir is also booked to perform at the festival. The Buffalo, New York native has made waves in recent years, releasing her latest album “Food For Thought” earlier this year. The artist has gained praise for her storytelling and style, reflective of the mid-90s hip-hop scene, into which she was born. The 28-year-old emcee and producer will perform in Oklahoma City as the event’s second headliner on June 18.
Several local musicians will perform on the main stage throughout the day, as well: Sarafina Byrd, Si’Yir Royale, W3SST, MAC Woods, CT Johnsong, Taylor Deneen, BIGKEN, D.Wright, Cortney Lachelle’, and Wavy Baby.
Poet and podcast host Dashari Miller will emcee the event alongside social media sensation and professor, George “Conscious” Lee.
A car show, street vendors, muralists, dancers, food trucks, 2022 political candidates, educational tents, and an area for kids’ activities will be located on Northeast 23rd Street, between the North Hood Street stage and North Kelham Avenue.
The event’s 5k run will be on Friday, June 17 from 7-9 p.m. A brunch at Florence’s Restaurant is scheduled for the holiday’s official day, June 19, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A separate event, the annual Juneteenth Music and Arts Festival, will be held at Washington Park in Oklahoma City on June 18. The festival will feature performances by west coast hip-hop heavyweight, DJ Quik; Tulsa artist, Gang51eJune; and more. The festival will also include a fundraising walk for the Carverdale Addition on the city’s east side, and an award ceremony in celebration of community leaders. You can find more information on the Juneteenth Music and Arts Festival here.
Juneteenth is a commemorative day in the United States, recognizing the emancipation of the country’s enslaved people. Although the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863, many people remained enslaved, due to a lack of enforcement of the law.
On June 19, 1865, Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to take command of more than 2,000 federal troops and enforce the emancipation of the state’s slaves. One year later, freedmen organized the first “Jubilee Day,” otherwise known as Juneteenth.
Traditionally celebrated by Black Americans throughout the south, the day became federally recognized in 2021 by United States President Joe Biden through the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act.
Although June 19 has become the commemorative day for emancipation, enslaved people remained in Union border states, Delaware and Kentucky, as well as Indian Territory – otherwise known as Oklahoma – until after the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution on December 6, 1865.
For more information on the Juneteenth on the East event, visit www.withloveokc.org/juneteenth.
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