Philadelphia Orchestra’s bassist Joseph Conyers and performers from KIPP West Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School at the 2023 Philadelphia Fall Arts Fest.
Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Orchestra Philadelphia & Ensemble Arts
FunTimes Magazine’s Culture + Entertainment column, week of June 3, 2024
“Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds.”
— Marcus Garvey
June means a myriad of wonderful annual Juneteenth celebrations and commemorations of Black freedom embodied in the spirit of civil rights champion Marcus Garvey (1887-1940). Garvey, who owned a Black newspaper, has been credited with coining the phrase “Black is beautiful!” One of the nation’s widely adopted annual Juneteenth events is the massive illumination of buildings initiated through the Garvey Freedom Lights Project. These engaging and enlightening low-cost or free entertainment offerings focus on Juneteenth, WURD Radio-FunTimes’ Black Music Month event, and other cultural activities that will feed the mind and soul. Just like Marcus Garvey tried to do.
A Stitch In Time At Juneteenth Flag-Making Workshop
Thursday, June 6, 2024. Learn about Juneteenth, Independence Day, and how they impacted African Americans in Philadelphia. Learn about the symbolism of the Juneteenth flag and other flags of liberation. Create your fabric flag using your symbols. Philadelphia’s Jihan A. Thomas will show you how. She is leading this workshop as part of Juneteenth 365. Thomas, a visual artist, and community/museum arts educator, practices the power of Black imagination and how it can support classroom student engagement in learning. She will share interesting narratives about Juneteenth and liberation. Free, 3:30 p.m. EST. Haverford Library, 5543 Haverford Avenue (56th St. & Haverford Ave.), 215-685-1964 or libwww.freelibrary.org.
Natline Thornton
Finding Your Roots…
Thursday, June 6, 2024. The search for family origins is a personal journey that many have a great passion for, but unfortunately know little about. Instructor Natline Thornton will help find information about your roots in the workshop, Tracing Your Roots: A Case Study in African Genealogy. Learn how to prepare for your research and set goals using oral history. Referencing her genealogical journey, Thornton will illustrate a search for an African-American family. Free but registration is encouraged; 6 p.m. EST to 7:30 p.m. EST Parkway Central Library, Helm Center, 1901 Vine St. 215-686-5396 or libwww.freelibrary.org or eventbrite.com.
Answering The Bell For Violence Prevention
Friday, June 7, 2024. Violence is taking a toll on Philadelphia. The Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia is partnering with PennLive Arts and community groups to proactively send a clear and very loud message in observance of National Gun Violence Awareness Day. They have created Toll the Bell, A Cry for Peace, a national “sound installation” supporting gun violence awareness. The endeavor will feature more than 60 partners including faith-based and community organizations. Toll the Bell is designed to encourage Philadelphia residents and officials to reflect on the unprecedented gun violence and honor those who died in armed tragedies. Bells and other sounds will ring in unison citywide, from West Philly to Old City. The event kicks off with an interfaith vigil service with Philadelphia Poet Laureate Kai Davis, and the day will include a “reflective walk” to Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, 19 S. 38th St., and a reception and lunch. Free, 12:30 p.m. EST to 1:30 p.m. EST (Arrive by 12:15 p.m. EST), Bell-ringing: 1 p.m. EST. Annenberg Center Outdoor Plaza, 3680 Walnut St. E-mail: eff@interfaithphiladelphia.org, 215-222-1012 or pennlivearts.org or interfaithphiladelphia.org.
Is This Your Speed?
Saturday, June 8, 2024. Love is in the June air at Millennium Connections: Odunde Black Love Speed Dating in South Philadelphia. You might find a new friend or even your soul mate. Time will tell. So, go mingle single. Try a few mini-dates, learn dating tips, and sip a free glass of wine in a leisurely environment, $40, 10 a.m. EST to 12:30 p.m. EST. 2526 Ellsworth St. Allevents.in or eventbrite.com.
WURD Radio & FunTimes Celebrate ‘Black Music Month’ In Style…
Friday, June 14, 2024. WURD Radio, FunTimes, and other community partners are not skipping a beat, and are proudly celebrating the rich musical heritage during Black Music Month in June. Trans Afro Express: The Global Impact of African, Caribbean, and African America Music 2024 will be spotlighting the dynamic authentic sounds of Afrobeats, reggae, hip-hop, R&B, jazz, and soul – genres that have made a major impact around the world. The event will feature a panel discussion, live performances, and a live music trivia game show. The event will be moderated by WURD’s Tiffany Bacon. It’s all part of WURD’s Message in Our Music Series. Get out your dancing shoes. Ticket $20 (seating will be on a first come-first served basis). 6 p.m. EST to 11 p.m. EST. The Lounge at World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St. 215-425-7875 or wurdradio.com/blackmusicmonth.
Shining A Light On Freedom
Monday, June 16 to Wednesday, June 19, 2024. Quick, get out your smartphones. To mark Juneteenth, Philly’s skyline will be illuminated brilliantly with the “Garvey Freedom Lights” of the Black Liberation colors red, black, and green. Starting at sunset, these city landmarks and other sites will be lit up citywide: The Benjamin Franklin Bridge, Philadelphia International Airport control tower, Parx Casino, Rivers Casino, Live! Casino, Independence Blue Cross, the PECO Crown Lights, Cira Centre South FMC Tower, Liberty Place One and Two, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Lincoln Financial Field, Wells Fargo Center, Citizens Bank Park, the Philadelphia Zoo, and various Greater Philadelphia YMCA sites. The Garvey Lights were named after Marcus Garvey, a civil rights crusader, businessman, and newspaper publisher, who believed in the separate-but-equal philosophy, Black nationalism, and the eventual return to Africa for people of African descent. Philadelphia, along with the nation, raised the Juneteenth flag to officially kick off a national celebration at the Philadelphia Juneteenth Family’s Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony outside City Hall in Center City on June 3rd. Juneteenth is the oldest national commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, which was in 1865. Free, lights activate after dusk. E-mail: tcstaley@msn.com, 215-472-5416.
A Jumpin’ Jubilee To Mark Juneteenth
Sunday, June 16, 2024.Check out Bartram’s Garden’s 4th annual Juneteenth Jubilee, co-hosted by VinylTap 215. Enjoy live performances by Jacqueline Constance, youth storytelling by Paul Best, free fruit, fitness classes, lawn games, and shopping. 11 a.m. EST to 4 p.m. EST. Bartram’s Garden, 5400 Lindbergh Blvd. 215-729-5281 or batramsgarden.org or do215.com.
Have Faith In This Free Kids’ Camp
Monday, June 10 to Thursday, June 13, 2024. Kids in the 6th, 7th ,and 8th grades, this is your lucky summer. Just as a mosaic celebrates the uniqueness of an individual tile and a pattern of many tiles together, Interfaith Youth Neighborhood Mosaic summer program embraces the beauty of each student’s individuality as a member of a diverse community. Polish up communications and leadership skills, and make friends. Try your hand at arts and crafts, and games; learn about various faiths; take part in identity workshops, or just relax and enjoy snacks and lunch. Organized by Interfaith Philadelphia. Free, 9 a.m. EST to 2 p.m. EST. Gesu School, 1700 W. Thompson St. E-mail: eff@interfaithphiladelphia.org, 215-222-1012 (Ext. 4) or interfaithphiladelphia.org.
