Juneteenth events coming up in Washington this week

WASHINGTON — Organizers have announced a strong lineup for this year’s Juneteenth holiday in Washington, commemorating the day that America’s last slaves were freed in 1865.

The events are coordinated by local nonprofit Washington for Justice.

“The goal of the Juneteenth Celebration in Washington is to highlight the cultural contributions of Black Iowans in literature, art, music, and community service,” Washington For Justice Director Dan Henderson said in a press release. “It also recognizes the historical struggle for freedom that African Americans waged for hundreds of years before emancipation and in the Jim Crow-era afterward. It is an ongoing struggle to seek equality and justice.”

The schedule for this week includes the following:

June 17 — "The Negro Artist" film documentary about the life and career of area spoken word performer, Caleb Rainey. Rainey has performed in Washington on two other occasions, and since then, Nik Heftman, who has media and film experience in Hollywood, produced a video about his rise to national prominence as a spoken word artist and poet, speaking to social justice issues. W4J will show the film at the Washington Public Library starting at 6:30 p.m., and will have a Zoom conversation with the film director Nik Heftman afterward.

June 19 (Juneteenth Day) — A two-part event will start at 1 p.m. at the Washington Public Library with children's author, Abena Sankofa Imhotep. She will be talking to children about the meaning of Juneteenth and read from her book, "Omari's Big Tree and the Mighty Djembe." At 4 p.m., there will be a Juneteenth Celebration featuring Abena Sankofa Imhotep, an award-winning author, scholar, and activist whose work “celebrates Africana, challenges historical narratives, and advocates for a just world,” according to organizers. The author is also known locally as the final commencement speaker at the historic Iowa Wesleyan University.

This Juneteenth program will also include a local choir singing the Black national anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing."

June 20 — An Evening with Award-winning Musician, Dartanyan Brown. Dartanyan has been inducted into the Iowa Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame (2010), Jazz Hall of Fame (2007), and Blues Hall of Fame (2003). Throughout his career, he has recorded and/or performed with an incredible variety of musicians, dancers, performance artists, and purveyors of new media, according to organizers. In addition to his performing career, Dartanyan has provided guidance to hundreds of educators on how to integrate Jazz studies and music technology into the K-12 educational sphere. He continues to blend the arts, education, and entrepreneurial spirit into a new paradigm for how, when, and why we educate our children to their responsibilities to the community they inhabit. This concert will take place at the historic Mills Seed Company Building in Washington with doors opening at 6:30 p.m., and the performance starting at 7 p.m.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com