Art

Juneteenth ‘Round the Bay’ Guide

It was on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had become official, Major General Gordon Granger and his regiment of Union soldiers arrived at Galveston, Texas, and gave the news that the Civil War had ended, that President Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation, and the “enslaved were now and forever free.” June 19 became known as Juneteenth and in 2021, it became a federal holiday. Here are some of the observations being held ’round the Bay.

Published

2 years ago

June 12, 2023

Oakland Post

Official Juneteenth flag. Wikipedia.

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of 250 years of legalized enslavement of Africans in the United States.

Long before the federal government declared Juneteenth a national holiday, June 19 had become synonymous with the end of legalized enslavement of Africans in the United States, even though the Emancipation Proclamation was signed on Jan 1, 1963.

June 19 became known as Juneteenth and in 2021, it became a federal holiday. Here are some of the observations being held ’round the Bay.

By Geoffrey Lee

Marin County

Marin City

June 19

Marin City’s Juneteenth events will last all day, beginning with a prayer breakfast at the Marguerite Johnson Senior Center at 9 a.m. at 640 Drake Ave., followed by a procession to George ‘Rocky’ Graham Park at 850 Drake Ave. in Sausalito where there will be musical entertainment, vendors, a jumpy house for children and more. For more information, call 415 332-1441

Mill Valley

June 17

Mill Valley Recreation, along with the City of Mill Valley and the Mill Valley Force for Racial Equity & Empowerment (MVFREE), will host its second annual Juneteenth celebration this year called the Freedom Festival. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mill Valley Downtown Plaza. Free. For more information, contact Molly Given, recreate@cityofmillvalley.org or 415-383-1370

San Francisco

The Curtis Family C-Notes will perform at 3 at MoAD in San Francisco on June 17. Photo courtesy of MoAD.

June 10

San Francisco Inaugural Juneteenth Parade

The parade route runs from San Francisco’s Civic Center down Market Street to the Embarcadero Ferry Terminal Plaza where it will join ‘Juneteenth on the Waterfront.’ 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For additional information on the Juneteenth Parade, please visit JuneteenthSFC.org.

‘Juneteenth Pop-Up on the Waterfront,’ at 1 Ferry Building, celebrates Black chefs and Black-owned small businesses, among them, Mo’Raysha’s oxtails, mac & cheese and more as well as Brutha’s Honey. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m

June 16

San Francisco public officials will kick off a full weekend of activities welcoming performers and speakers from 12 noon to 1 at City Hall.

June 17

Juneteenth SF Freedom Celebration in the Fillmore. Saturday, June 17 · 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. For more information, go to: https://juneteenth-sf.org

Museum of the African Diaspora:

MoAD will honor Juneteenth with free exhibitions and programming for the whole family. Free admission from 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. One of the special events is from 3-4 p.m. called A Song of Triumph II: The Diaspora of Black Music with the Curtis Family C-Notes and members of the Community Music Center Black Music Program Faculty. Register at https://29050a.blackbaudhosting.com/

Juneteenth SF Freedom Celebration in the Fillmore

June 18

San Francisco Juneteenth Weekend at Gilman Park

Celebrate Freedom Day and honor fathers with live music, food, and fun at the SF Juneteenth Fathers Day Festival on Sunday, June 18 from noon to 6 p.m. 903 Gilman Ave., SF

Oakland

June 10:

BoomShake Music, in partnership with the Black Cultural Zone, as part of Oakland Juneteenth Liberation Month invites you to a community arts & culture gathering sparked by the seeds, roots, and branches of artist, teacher, mother, and friend Monica Hastings-Smith aka Mo’ Clearly, who transitioned to the ancestor realm in June 2021. 1 – 6 p.m., Free. Liberation Park, Oakland, CA 7101 Foothill, Oakland

June 16:

Oakland Rocks’ Juneteenth week: Celebrating the journey, justice, resilience, and progress culminates in a lunchtime concert featuring the West Coast Blues Society, performances by Oakland’s Poet Laureate and Youth Poet Laureate with remarks by Vice Mayor Mayfield. 11-1 p.m., Oakland City Hall Plaza., 14^th and Broadway.

Odun Ayo: A Juneteenth Celebration of Black Families, Students and Staff Thriving in Black Joy and Excellence in OUSD. The evening celebrates Black students, staff, and families in Oakland schools. Featuring live performances by Queen Iminah and African American Females of Excellence (AAFE), Kingmakers of Oakland, Spear of the Nation, interactive activities, and community resources to uplift Black Joy and Excellence in Oakland Unified School District. Organized by Spearitwurx with AAFE, African American Male Achievement (AAMA), and OUSD Office of Equity. 5-9 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland CA

June 17:

Afrocentric Oakland FAM BAM Oakland’s 14th Annual Juneteenth Festival

Lake Merritt Amphitheater Lake Merritt Boulevard Oakland, CA 94612

A celebration of Black/African culture that has become a family-friendly tradition for thousands of Bay Area residents. Father’s Day tribute have been a guaranteed good time for the whole family. For more, info, go to AfrocentricOakland.com. 12 noon – 8 p.m.

Berkeley

Musicians at a previous Juneteenth in Berkeley.

Berkeley Juneteenth Week:

June 11.

Prayer for Peace: Pastor Michael Smith, McGee Avenue Baptist Church, 1640 Stuart St. calls for the community to come together at their places of worship and pray for peace, protection for children, community healing, equal justice under the law, and to remember the hope and promise of Juneteenth. An all-denominational and community inclusive event that can be repeated on June 18. 11 a.m.- noon.

June 18

36^th Annual Berkeley Juneteenth Festival Sun. 18, 2023, 11 a.m. -7 p.m.

3271-3299 Adeline St. Berkeley. Performances by Sonny Farley, Junior Toots, Nkan music, Guitar Trifecta, II Funk Ky Shu’s Wit Nu Soles, Nat Bolden, Shannon Rhodes, SambaFunk!, Deanna Brewer, Blackcat Zydeco

Richmond and West Contra Costa County

Richmond

June 17

Juneteenth Family Day and Festival

A Juneteenth parade 10 a.m. at Booker T. Anderson Community Center, 960 South 47th St. Richmond, CA 94804 is followed by a festival at 3230 Macdonald Ave. Richmond, CA

11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Albany

A free, outdoor Juneteenth and Father’s Day Celebration including music, art, food, dance, a maker’s fair and more in store. It features performances by: Terrie Odabi (blues), African Heritage Ensemble (African drumming workshop/performance), Keith & The KC Kids (classical fusion), Skip the Needle (rock), Al Lazard and the World Street Players (New Orleans Funk), Tiffany Austin (jazz/soul), Valerie Troutt’s MoonCandy (live house ensemble), DJ K-La V (soulful party music). For more information, go to AlbanyJuneteenth.com

American Canyon

The 2^nd Annual Juneteenth Community Fest will be held on Sunday, June 18, 2023, from 1-6 p.m. at Main Street Park, 5500 Eucalyptus Dr., in American Canyon.

Brenda Knight will be the MC and Dr. Lawrence VanHook will be the keynote speaker.

For additional information contact: Brendaknightevents@yahoo.com or 707-319-4773.

East Contra Costa County

June 17

Antioch

Grace Bible Fellowship Church, from 11:30-4:30 p.m. vendors and kid zone, live music, food and drinks. FREE live entertainment featuring headliner R&B Musical Group Surface, R&B sensation Niecey Living Single, Christian Rap Artist CJ Emulous, Gospel Artist Alfreda Campbell. 3415 Oakley Road, Antioch, CA 94509

Pittsburg

Souljah’s 12^th Annual Juneteenth Celebration family event at a new location, City Park – Railroad and Civic avenues, noon-5:30 p.m.

June 18

Antioch

Juneteenth: A Freedom celebration. Rides and games; live entertainment, free food and drinks and more. Williamson Ranch Park, Lone Tree Way & Hillcrest. Antioch, CA 94531 noon-5 p.m.

Pleasant Hill

The event will be held at the City Hall lake, 100 Gregory Lane, from 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. and will feature: a performance for the kids by Unique Derique, a visit from Princess Tiana of ‘The Princess and the Frog,’ a West African highlife band, Sweet Mother Food Truck & The Guzzler Bar Truck and an art display

June 25

Concord

Juneteenth: “Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future, includes vendors, games, food, crafts, music, dance, speakers

Sunday, June 25, Todos Santos Plaza, 2175 Willow Pass Road, Concord, CA

1-3 p.m.,

South Alameda County

June 15

Hayward

The summer’s first Thursday street party will be presented by the Hayward Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the city’s Juneteenth celebration organizers. 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at B and Main Streets.

June 17

The West Coast Blues Society will present the Hayward Russell City Juneteenth Celebration music festival on the plaza behind City Hall with jazz, blues, R&B and gospel performances, including a special guest appearance by the legendary Johnny Rawls, of Hattiesburg, Miss. For more information, call (510) 472-8800 or visit www.westcoastbluessociety.org.

June 19

On national Juneteenth Day of Observance, the Pan-African flag will be flown on Hayward City Hall Plaza. The Hayward Public Library will also be presenting its annual Juneteenth Online Readathon.

Livermore

June 17

Juneteenth Celebration in Partnership with Tri-Valley for Black Lives The local celebration, including music, art, drumming, singing, dancing, and musical performances. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Bankhead Plaza, 2400 First St, Livermore, CA 94550

Vallejo

June 17

33rd Annual Vallejo Juneteenth Festival & Parade will take place at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park downtown behind City Hall at Mare Island Way & Capitol Street. This year’s event will feature a parade in downtown Vallejo. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Stockton

June 19

“Juneteenth Celebrating Freedom, Community and Education” will be held at Weber Point Event Center, 221 N. Center St., Stockton. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. For more information, contact Ms. Rosemarie 209-430-4096; Ms. Gloria 209-481-6184 or Ms. Rachel 209-718-9828.

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Activism

Griot Theater Company Presents August Wilson’s Work at Annual Oratorical Featuring Black Authors

The performance explores the legacy of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson whose 10-play Century Cycle chronicles the African American experience across the 20th century, with each play set in a different decade. “Half a Century” journeys through the final five plays of this monumental cycle, bringing Wilson’s richly woven stories to life in a way that celebrates history, resilience, and the human spirit.

Published

3 months ago

February 17, 2025

Oakland Post

Late playwright August Wilson. Wikipedia photo.

By Godfrey Lee

Griot Theater Company will present their Fifth Annual Oratorical with August Wilson’s “Half a Century,” at the Belrose on 1415 Fifth Ave., in San Rafael near the San Rafael Public Library.

The performance explores the legacy of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson whose 10-play Century Cycle chronicles the African American experience across the 20^th century, with each play set in a different decade. “Half a Century” journeys through the final five plays of this monumental cycle, bringing Wilson’s richly woven stories to life in a way that celebrates history, resilience, and the human spirit.

Previous performance highlighting essential Black American authors included Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, and Lorraine Hansberry with Langston Hughes.

The play will be performed at 3:00. p.m. on Feb. 20, 21, 22, 27, and 28 at 7:00 p.m., and on Feb. 23 at 3:00 p.m.

For more information, go to griottheatercompany.squarespace.com/productions-v2

Oakland Post

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Activism

MLK Day of Service Volunteers Make Blankets and Art for Locals in Need

“Everyone has an opportunity to participate,” said Glenda Roberts, kinship support care program manager at CCYSB. “Our nonprofit organization and participants recognize how important it is to give back to the community and this is serving. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, ‘Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve.’”

Published

4 months ago

January 18, 2025

Oakland Post

Photo courtesy of the nonprofit.

By Kathy Chouteau
The Richmond Standard

The Contra Costa Youth Service Bureau (CCYSB) and Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church (BMBC) are collaborating with a team of volunteers for a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, Monday, Jan. 20 that will wrap the community’s most vulnerable people in warm blankets and provide them with an uplifting gift of art.

Volunteers will kick off their activities at BMBC at 11 a.m., making blankets for the unhoused people served by the Greater Richmond Interfaith Program (GRIP) and art for those in convalescence in Richmond.

Others will get to work preparing a lunch of chili, salad, a veggie tray, and water for participants, offered courtesy of CCYSB, while supplies last.

“People of all ages are welcome to participate in the MLK Day of Service,” said Roberts. Volunteers can RSVP via phone to Glenda Roberts at 510-215-4670, ext. 125.

CCYSB Boardmember Jackie Marston and her friends donated the materials and supplies to make the blankets and art projects. The nonprofit is also providing the day’s complimentary lunch, as well as employees to volunteer, under the direction of CCYSB Executive Director Marena Brown.

BMBC, led by Rev. Dr. Carole McKindley-Alvarez, is providing the facility for the event and volunteers from the church, which is located at 684 Juliga Woods St. in Richmond.

Located in Richmond, CCYSB is a nonprofit youth advocacy organization that serves eligible children, youth, and low-income families with a variety of wraparound services so they can thrive. Programs include academic achievement, youth mentorship, truancy prevention and direct response.

Oakland Post

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Art

Vandalism at Richmond Ferry Terminal Saddens Residents

Residents have been lamenting the destruction online. Ellen Seskin posted photos of the vandalism to the Facebook group, Everybody’s Richmond, on Jan. 12, saying she encountered it while out on a walk. “It was on the sidewalk, the street, the doors to the ferry, even in the art installation and the ‘stone’ benches,” she said. “I reported it but knowing how slow they are about getting things done — I just know that the longer you leave graffiti, the more likely they are to spray it again.”

Published

4 months ago

January 18, 2025

Oakland Post

Graffiti mars the walkway at the Richmond Ferry Terminal. Photo by Kathy Chouteau, The Richmond Standard.

The Richmond Standard

“This is why we can’t have nice things,” stated the post on NextDoor.

The post referenced images of graffiti at the Richmond Ferry Terminal. Not just on the terminal, but also on public artwork, on trail signs, on public benches and the boardwalk.

On Wednesday, the Standard stopped by to see it for ourselves. The good news was that it appears the graffiti on the terminal and on the artwork, called Changing Tide, have been cleaned for the most part. But graffiti remained abundant in the area around the relatively new ferry terminal, which opened to the public just six years ago.

Graffiti artists tagged benches and the boardwalk. Cars that had done doughnuts in the street marked the cul-de-sac just outside the historic Craneway Pavilion.

A ferry worker told us the graffiti had been there since before he started working for the ferry service about a week ago.

A member of the Army Corps of Engineers who did not want to be named in this report called the scene “sad,” as “they’d done such a nice job fixing it up.”

“It’s sad that all this money has been spent and hoodlums just don’t care and are destroying stuff,” he said.

It wasn’t immediately clear how soon the graffiti would be removed. The Standard reported the graffiti to the city’s graffiti abatement hotline. We were prompted to leave a message reporting the address and location of the graffiti.

“It was on the sidewalk, the street, the doors to the ferry, even in the art installation and the ‘stone’ benches,” she said. “I reported it but knowing how slow they are about getting things done — I just know that the longer you leave graffiti, the more likely they are to spray it again.”

In the comment section responding to Seskin’s post, local attorney Daniel Butt questioned why there aren’t cameras in the area.

On Nextdoor, one resident suggested searching to see if the tags match any accounts on Instagram, hoping to identify the perpetrator.

On its website, the City of Richmond says residents should graffiti immediately call Public Works graffiti removal and/or Code Enforcement at 510-965-4905.

Kathy Chouteau contributed to this report.