ENTERTAINMENT BUZZ
Juneteenth and African American cultural events fill communities
By Honey D . Hallock
TULSA , Okla . – Juneteenth has been celebrated as “ African Americans ’ Independence Day ” since June 19 , 1865 . That ’ s when Major General Granger landed in Galveston , Texas to announce the end of the Civil War and that the enslaved were to be freed , more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation .
Even though the federal government just got around to recognizing Juneteenth as an official holiday in 2016 , people have been celebrating it for more than 150 years . This month , there are lots of ways to celebrate .
At one time , Oklahoma had more black communities than any other state . The All-Black Towns Bus Tour explores the history of these communities with an all-day tour that leaves from Tulsa on June 10 to visit these towns and learn from local historians and citizens about their history . Call ( 918 ) 549- 7645 for tickets .
Lawton will celebrate Juneteenth at the Patterson Center on June 17 . The opening ceremony starts at 3:30 p . m ., followed by food , music , activities , games and entertainment for the entire family .
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ENTERTAINMENT BUZZ
The Owasso Roundup Club Arena in McCarty Park is hosting a Juneteenth Rodeo on June 17 . This rodeo has been held in Owasso for more than 20 years and features a pony express and tailgate pre-party .
Juneteenth will be celebrated in Chickasha at the Washita Valley Park on June 17 starting at 10 a . m .
The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center in downtown Little Rock is hosting a Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom June 17 . Events include live music , kids ’ activities , food trucks and vendors .
The 19th annual Northwest Arkansas Juneteenth Celebration will be held June 17 at the University of Arkansas Gardens in Fayetteville . The all-day event features an oldfashioned cookout , music , games , activities , snacks and a Health Fair with free medical and dental screenings .
Also in Fayetteville , the Walton Arts Center pays homage to Black Music Month with tributes to some of the most powerful performers of our time . On Friday , June 23 , vocalist Jane Monheit delivers “ The Ella Fitzgerald Centennial Celebration ,” rendering the unmistakable vocal delivery of Fitzgerald more accurately than anyone else . Then , June 27-30 , relive the R & B sounds that defined the 1960 ’ s and beyond with “ Motown : The Musical ,” featuring wellloved tunes made famous by Marvin Gaye , Diana Ross , Michael Jackson and dozens more . For tickets to all these spectacular shows and more , visit www . waltonartscenter . org .
Juneteenth on Greenwood is a celebration of heritage through music and art with events all over Downtown Tulsa , June 15 - 18 .
Thursday evening , the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame will host a comedy show . There will also be a Gospel Brunch and Evening Concert at the Hall of Fame on Sunday .
The Greenwood Cultural Center will host concerts Friday and Saturday at 5 p . m . Performers include The Hamilton Sisters , Darryl Christopher & The Ingredients and Arthur Thompson .
Gage Juneteenth Workshop and Fashion Play is “ a fusion of Spoken Word , Fashion , Music and Visual Art with the history of Juneteenth , the Emancipation Proclamation , the promise of freedom and the global movement to unity .” It will be held June 18 , at 6:30 p . m . in Living ArtSpace on Brady Street in Tulsa . Visit www . selahmodelandcompany . com for tickets .
Living Arts of Tulsa is also hosting two exhibits for Juneteenth on Greenwood . Noire III is an exhibition of 20 contemporary African- American artists from Oklahoma . Examining Change is a collection of new works comparing present-day North Tulsa to that of the past . The Exhibits run , June 2-22 with a reception at 6 p . m . on June 2 .
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