Join us in honoring Juneteenth | View in browser
Join Girl From The North Country cast member
Kimber Elayne Sprawl, an incredible group of
artists, and The Public Theater in honoring
Juneteenth.
As the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the official ending of slavery in the United States, Juneteenth is observed every year on June 19. This important day occurred two-and-a-half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, with Texas being the final state to observe the decree.
We asked Kimber to share more about her inspiration for this video, Hamlet’s famous ‘To Be or Not To Be’ speech, and its connection to Black Lives Matter and Juneteenth. Here is what she shared with us:
“Listen as Black actors across the nation explore the truth in the painful reality of being Black in America with Shakespearean text. Timeless words that were never intended for us, yet the notion ‘To Be or Not To Be’ carries infinite weight throughout Black American history.
“We call on America to listen with empathy and to act in alliance with Black Lives Matter.
“This Nation possesses power that will remain latent until we unlock its truths.”
Watch the video at publictheater.org.
To learn more about Black Lives Matter, organizations supporting Black communities on the front lines, and Juneteenth, please visit publictheater.org/blacklivesmatter.
Continue honoring Juneteenth with Joe’s Pub Live!
NNENNA OGWO & STERLING STRINGS: ANNUAL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION
Friday, June 19 at 7PM
On the 19th of June, 1865, Texas became the final state to officially recognize the freedom of enslaved Africans on American soil, two-and-a-half years after the Emancipation celebration commemorating the end of slavery in America. In the 5th year of her annual Juneteenth celebration at Joe’s Pub, pianist Nnenna Ogwo returns with her ever brilliant collaborators, Sterling Strings.
