Here at Blackroots Alliance, we’re fighting for the liberation of all Black people. A part of that work is remembering the struggles and triumphs of our ancestors. Our afro-futuristic vision holds at the center acknowledging past efforts, celebrating present wins, and radically imagining future gains. One of the methods we utilize to share our work and ideas, in a pandemic, is to host virtual events.

Juneteenth has a long history, dating back to 1865. On June 19th of that year, Union soldiers landed in Galveston, TX with the news that the Civil War had ended, and shared the details of the Emancipation Proclamation with slaves who had no idea that they had been freed for over two years. A year later, the inaugural Juneteenth celebration kicked off, and we are now part of that legacy of celebration and reflection.

Juneteenth is an opportunity to recognize that freedom and equality for Black people in America has been deferred, but it also presents an opportunity for us to fully participate in our own path to liberation and claim freedom for ourselves in the future. Moreover, 2020 saw colossal shifts in society, and Black communities felt the full force of the 2020 impact as a moment to organize a new Civil Rights Movement.

We’re excited about our upcoming event called “Just Work: A celebration of Juneteenth and Afrofuturism.” The occasion will premiere on Friday, June 18th from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm. BlackRoots Alliance will celebrate all of our wins on this Juneteenth, towards realizing liberation for all marginalized communities, especially our own. We know once all Black people are free, then everyone will experience equity where it didn’t exist before.

We’re formally inviting you to this FREE affair, as a supporter of our work. We plan to engage, inform, celebrate, and brainstorm around our next steps and how to achieve them, together. If you’re interested in attending, please follow this link to RSVP. Our guest panelist and artists include: Seft Hunter, Aislinn Pulley, Danielle Slaughter, Anton Seals, Les James, Mike Strode, Rae Stanton, Helen G., and Kayla Brown. A reminder email will be delivered closer to that day. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you soon.