Juneteenth Edition 2020
Dear Friends,
On this Juneteenth eve, we are on the dawn of a new beginning. The tragic deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and Rayshard Brooks moved issues of systemic racism, inequality, and police violence to the forefront.
As protests push America to imagine a future where Black Lives Matter, we invite you to start your Juneteenth morning with a virtual conversation featuring Smithsonian Secretary and Founding Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Dr. Lonnie Bunch.
In celebration of National Caribbean American Heritage month, we salute artists whose work beckons for change. You will also find virtual celebrations for Juneteenth, Pride, National African American Music Month, and more.
We thank all working to support our community, and remind all to stay safe and smart to protect ourselves and each other.
Onward!
The Miami MoCAAD Team
Caribbean people and their descendants played a critical role in the history and culture of the United States. In celebration of June as National Caribbean American Heritage Month, Miami MoCAAD salutes Nari Ward, Edouard Duval-Carríe, Carl Juste, and Morel Doucet for expanding the canon with artistic expressions that inspire social change.
Nari Ward is a Jamaican sculpture artist based in New York City. Ward’s style is recognizable by his materials, which consist mainly of discarded objects. Items considered trash are reused to create thought provoking works that directly tackle social and political issues.
Edouard Duval-Carríe was born in Haiti and is based in Miami. His work often features themes of memory and history centered around Haitian culture, displacement and imagery. His work has been exhibited in museums locally, nationally and globally.
Carl Juste , born in Haiti and based in Miami, is an award-winning photojournalist for The Miami Herald . His striking and provocative black and white photographs have appeared in stories domestically and abroad. He cofounded Iris Photo Collective, a collaboration to create new ways to document the relationship of people of color to the world.
Morel Doucet , born in Haiti and based in Miami, works with ceramics, illustrations, and prints to discuss climate-gentrification, migration and displacement in Black diasporic communities. His prints powerfully engage the viewer to consider the beauty of Blackness.
MIAMI MoCAAD Museum MOMENT
Jacob Lawrence: The American Struggle shows pivotal moments in the American Revolution and the early decades of the republic between 1770 and 1817. The Peabody Sussex Museum exhibit can be found online here .
MIAMI MoCAAD Juneteenth MOMENTS
Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of African slaves who provided uncompensated wealth and support to the foundation of this nation. President Abraham Lincoln issued The Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, but the last group of enslaved Africans in Galveston, Texas were not notified of their freedom until June 19, 1865. Read more here .
Here are virtual events to celebrate Juneteenth :
Lonnie G. Bunch, III , Secretary of Smithsonian Institution and founding director of Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), joins Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart for a one-on-one conversation on the legacy of Juneteenth on June 19 th at 9am (EST). Click here to register. NMAAHC will also be hosting an online event, Juneteenth: A Celebration of Resistance , on Friday and Saturday. For more, click here .
Tune into Concerned African Women, Inc., via Facebook Live at 6pm (EST) on June 19 th for a live presentation showcasing the history of Juneteenth, the journey of our ancestors and the future of our community! Click here for details.
Alicia Keys and John Legend team up for Juneteenth this Friday, June 19 th at 8pm (EST), on Instagram Live for a special music match-up that grew out of COVID-19 quarantine. Click here for details. (The Root)
MIAMI MoCAAD Quiz MOMENT
What year did Florida make Juneteenth a holiday?
A . 1991 B . 1982 C . 1975 D. 2001 E . Not Yet
Find the answer on Miami MoCAAD Facebook and Instagram!
MIAMI MoCAAD Speak Up MOMENTS
“and when we speak we are afraid
our words will not be heard
nor welcomed
but when we are silent
we are still afraid
So it is better to speak
Remembering
we were never meant to survive”
-Audre Lorde
MIAMI MoCAAD Pride MOMENT
Miami MoCAAD celebrates Audre Lorde, Mickalene Thomas, and James Baldwin, who spoke truth through their art in an often unforgiving world. Click here for virtual Pride celebrations around the world that promote diversity and equality. (NYTimes)
MIAMI MoCAAD Music MOMENT
In celebration of June as National African-American Music Appreciation Month, check out these new protest songs of the Black Lives Matter Movement from contemporary musicians. (The Face
MIAMI MoCAAD Inspirational MOMENTS
Miami MoCAAD salutes 20-year-old Miami native Danielle Geathers who recently became the first black woman student body president at Massachusetts Institute Technology (MIT). Learn more about Danielle and her achievements here . (The Miami Times)
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre inspires with exciting performances. The free livestreams will be broadcasted weekly on Thursdays at 7pm ET. See more here . (The Miami Times)
These scholarships for black students offer awards up to $40,000, along with mentorship and career opportunities. To learn more click here . (U.S.News)
MIAMI MoCAAD Reading MOMENTS
Suriname
Check out Ibram X. Kendi's book list curated to help America transcend its racist heritage. (NYTimes)
Talking about race with children can be challenging. To assist with these difficult conversations, check out this virtual library with book selections about race. Each book links to a YouTube video where the story is read. Take a look around!
MIAMI MoCAAD “Talks for You” MOMENTS
This Vision & Justice Project conceived by Harvard Professor Sarah E. Lewis aims to foster understanding of historic roots and contemporary outgrowth of visual literacy for justice in American, particularly African American civic life. Click here for talks on the role of the arts for justice.
Get ready for a virtual evening of conversation with Rachel Eliza Griffiths and Edwidge Danticat as they discuss Griffiths’ new collection of poetry, Seeing the Body: Poems on June 20 th at 7pm. Click here to register for the event.
Artists have lost income as a result of Coronavirus (COVID-19) due to cancelled performances, exhibitions, commissions, teaching jobs, workshops, speaking opportunities, and more. Miami-Dade Artist Support! (MÁS!) funds are unrestricted and may be used by artists to help with financial issues such as rent, utilities, medical costs, insurance, food, etc. Click here to apply.
The Miami Museum of Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora, Miami MoCAAD, will discover, commission, collect and preserve the work of the most advanced contemporary artists of the Global African Diaspora and exhibit this art at the highest level at home and abroad.
