BCN Staff – April 30, 2022 – Mosaic Templars Cultural Center on Friday unveiled its upcoming list of activities for its Juneteenth in Da Rock celebrations across the city nearly a year after the African American observance became a national holiday.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on June 17, 2021, signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law establishing June 19 as a legal public holiday starting in 2022. Juneteenth marks the day the last enslaved people were freed in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.
BlackConsumerNews.com will update those Juneteenth affiliated activities in the city and across the state and post photos of those activities on our Black Carpet page here. If you have photos of your event that you would like posted to BCN, please send to info@BlackConsumerNews.com with “Juneteenth” in the subject line.
Mosaic Templers, which is part of the state’s Division of Heritage within the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, recently unveiled their newest exhibit “And the Beat Don’t Stop: 50 Years of Hip-Hop,” running now to July 1 at the museum located at 501 W. 9th St., in downtown Little Rock. This dynamic exhibit serves as inspiration for this year’s Saturday, June 18, Juneteenth in da Rock celebration.
Other facets of the museum’s Juneteenth festivities include:
- Saturday, June 18, Juneteenth 5K Walk/Run (registration required)
- Saturday, June 18, Live Music (free)
- Saturday, June 18, Street Food/Vendors (items available for purchase)
To register for the 5K, please visit www.JuneteenthLittleRock.com. This is a chip timed race being coordinated in partnership with the Little Rock Marathon on a route that will take participants through some of Little Rock’s most historic African American neighborhoods, including past Central High School and through the campus of Philander Smith College.
Music has long been a key part of MTCC’s Juneteenth activities. Guests will enjoy MC Lyte, an actress, rapper and DJ. MC Lyte was most recently seen in “New York Undercover,” “S.W.A.T.,” “Power” and “Queen of the South.” A hip-hop legend, MC Lyte was the first female rapper to be nominated for a Grammy Award, the first rap artist to perform at Carnegie Hall and the first female artist to earn a gold single. She is the CEO of Sunni Gyrl, Inc., an entertainment management and production company. MC Lyte is also an author, motivational speaker and philanthropist. Her charity, Hip-Hop Sisters Foundation, has given over $1,000,000 in scholarships.
The family friendly event will feature a Kid Zone as well as access to The Hall, 721 W 9th St., where guests will enjoy the MTCC Education Station complete with displays where families can learn about the history of Juneteenth and experience interactive hands-on fun. The new hip-hop themed exhibit will be open for viewing inside MTCC. MTCC receives support in production of Juneteenth from the Friends of the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, a non-profit that supports the museum through fundraising efforts. Additional support comes in part from the Arkansas Arts Council, Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council, Arkansas Medical Dental and Pharmaceutical Association, Let’s Do Launch and US Bank.
Those interested in participating as a vendor should reach out to Brian Rodgers, Community Liaison, at brian.rodgers@arkansas.gov or 501-683-3636 or visit the MTCC Juneteenth website at JuneteenthLittleRock.com.
