Wayland Public Library Invites Community to Juneteenth Events

WAYLAND — Director Sandra Raymond and the Wayland Public Library wish to invite community members to two events in commemoration of Juneteenth.

The History of Juneteenth with Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson

When: Thursday, June 16 from 7-8:30 p.m.

Where: On Zoom. To register, please click here.

What: Historian, author and educator Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson will give a presentation on Juneteenth — which commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union Army Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and shared the news of freedom with African-Americans that remained enslaved more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Dr. Carter Jackson will give an overview of the holiday’s history and explore the various ways Black communities have created traditions, parades, and recipes, cultivated in the joy of emancipation and freedom. 

Dr. Carter Jackson is an associate professor in the department of Africana Studies at Wellesley College. Her research focuses on slavery and the abolitionists, violence as a political discourse, historical film, and black women’s history.

“Become Your Dreams: History of Hip Hop Dance” Event

When: Saturday, June 18 from 3-4 p.m.

Where: Library Parking Lot, 5 Concord Road

Residents are encouraged to bring a lawn chair. 

What: Community members of all ages are invited to attend this free “Become Your Dreams: History of Hip Hop Dance” event as part of Wayland Public Library’s celebration of Juneteenth.

The event will feature a performance by Illstyle & Peace Productions, a multicultural, Philadelphia-based dance company. The company creates work rooted in contemporary, West African, old school and new school hip-hop blended with an eclectic mix of dance and performance disciplines, including tap, ballet, hip-hop and more.

The group aims to connect all individuals through dance and positive messages by advocating for peace, love, and respect for all.

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