Juneteenth is on Monday, June 19, an occasion that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. The City of Asheville has partnered with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Association of Asheville & Buncombe County to provide a week-long celebration of Juneteenth for the community titled, “Celebrating the History and Legacy of Juneteenth.”
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville & Buncombe County has a long history of community outreach, engagement, and educational programming for over forty years in the local community. Learn more about its mission of advancing the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Honoring the holiday with a week of events
“Black Asheville 411” lunch and learn sessions are taking place each day this week from noon to 1 p.m., covering a new topic at each session. Attend this afternoon’s talk at Stephens-Lee Community Center, titled “Community Reflections on the Historic Stephens-Lee High School.” Find the full schedule of lunch and learn sessions including topics and speakers.
The Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Ferguson Auditorium will screen movies featuring Black actors as part of the Asheville Juneteenth Black Film Series. Movies start at 6:30 p.m. and are free to the public. Catch “Ali” tonight, “The Woman King” on Wednesday, “Ray” on Thursday, and “Madea’s Family Reunion” on Friday evening.
The week of events culminates with the Juneteenth Festival Celebration in Pack Square Park on Saturday, June 17 through Sunday, June 18. The festival kicks off Saturday at 11 a.m. with an address from Dr. Oralene Simmons. Folks can learn about the history of Juneteenth from Jonathon McCoy, take walking tours of Downtown African-American sites, and join local church choirs and groups for Sunday’s “Praise in the Park.” See the tentative schedule of events for the festival.
