Celebrate Black Community & Culture

June 18-20, 2021

A coalition of local organizations invites you to be a part of the first annual Chapel Hill-Carrboro Juneteenth Celebration! Celebrate Black community and culture through arts performances, history exhibits, kids activities, and more. This year’s event will be mostly virtual with a limited number of in-person and hybrid offerings.

Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. The Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro proclaimed the observance and commemoration of Juneteenth on June 19, 2020 and encourage residents and employers to recognize the holiday.

Save The Dates

#BuyBlackCHC Scavenger Hunt

June 14 – 20

Hosted by Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP

Support Black-owned businesses, learn Black history, and win prizes in the #BuyBlackCHC Virtual Scavenger Hunt! Activities will include in-person, curbside/pickup, and virtual options.

Participants can join the game by following these simple steps:

  1. Download the GooseChase iOS or Android app.
  2. Register for a personal account with a username & password of your choice.
  3. Search for and select the Juneteenth BoB Scavenger Hunt game, or search by game code VJ9WKX, password is #buyblackchc.
  4. Follow the prompts to select or create your player profile.

Thanks to co-sponsors EmPOWERment and the Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill – Carrboro, top point earners will win prizes from local businesses! Follow @chcnaacp_econ and hashtag #BuyBlackCHC for tips, teasers, and bonus points!

See the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Black Business List

 

Learn Local History

I Was Still Singing

Celebrate the contributions of Black women in Chapel Hill’s history! Visit the pop-up exhibit and celebrate Black history and culture all week long as part of Chapel Hill-Carrboro’s inaugural Juneteenth celebration.

See The Digital Exhibit

The exhibit is FREE & open to all! Visit 109 E. Franklin Street, right next to Epilogue Books: Saturday & Sunday, June 12-13 | Wednesday-Sunday, June 16-20 | 1-7 PM

Virtual Concerts

Starting Friday, June 18 at 7:00 PM, we’ll be releasing exclusive virtual concerts from the local Black musicians listed below. Support local music, tune in, and don’t forget to tip!

Kaze4Letters

Kaze4letters is a Durham based Rap artist who has experience in many aspects of the music industry. Kaze was a founding member of UNC student organization Hip-Hop Nation, which promoted local MCs, DJs, poets, and graffiti artists. He is now co-owner of Vibehouse 405 a recording studio and creative space, dedicated to the creation and expression of music, art, media and culture. He is also the director of arts and culture for the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership. He has collaborated with many local organizations and musicians coordinating the Save the Music series which strives to support the local artist community, bring attention to local talent and bring people out to enjoy what’s going on downtown. His latest album ‘A Thousand Shades of Black’ touches on his journeys with creativity, identity and the diversity of Blackness in all forms.

Learn More

Lydia Salett Dudley

Lydia Salett Dudley is a jazz and gospel pianist and singer living in the Raleigh-Durham area. Her first exposure to music came from the local Baptist church in Cleveland Ohio which was instrumental in providing experience in playing for various groups of children and adults. Her nonprofit organization The Salett Art Center, Inc. is geared to serve at-risk youth by provide music education that empowers each individual to express their own voice.  She currently sits on board of The Heart of Carolina Jazz organization. She often performs with her band Jazz Xpressions, which consists of music educators and performers.  Her 2020 single  ‘Whatcha Gonna Say’ addresses racism, political issues and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Listen On Tracks Music Library

Souls of Joy

Souls of Joy sings current and old school gospel music that will uplift, inspire, and bring joy to the souls of our community.

SunQueen Kelcey

SunQueen Kelcey has two things at the center of her music: body positivity and radical self love. Her musical style is a genre-bending collage of hip-hop, soul, rock, and contemporary R&B, call it soul-rock. She delivers an energetic and passionate performance complete with her live band The Soular Flares. Kelcey grew up in a small North Carolina town called Southern Pines, absorbing a broad range of music from Mary J Blige, Nina Simone, and Jill Scott to Queen and Rage Against the Machine. She has overcome a series of obstacles to get to where she is now, rising above loss and personal setbacks to find her own voice and pursue her artistic dreams. Her commitment to empowerment is what helped Kelcey sign a record deal with indie label, Smart Mouth Records LLC based in Durham, NC. Her new album, “See Attached” explores her interpretation of heartbreak, toxic relationships and mental health.

Learn More

Tracks in the Stacks

Surprise! Starting Friday, June 18 at 7:00 PM, we’ll be releasing exclusive concerts and interviews from Black Tracks Music Library musicians.

Tracks in the Stacks is a video series showing local talent on Tracks Music Library. This project is co-produced by Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture and Kevin “Rowdy” Rowsey.

Filmed at Chapel Hill Public Library
Video by Vertex Theory
Audio by Threee Corners

Tracks in the Stacks: A.yoni Jeffries

With her soulful, spiritual sound, A.yoni Jeffries takes listeners on a journey through the depths of emotions. With her unconfined range, the afro-indigenous singer/songwriter spans multiple genres adding her own soulful twist. As a talented songwriter, her music is driven by strong melody – featuring upbeat records and ballads that takes listeners to the most beautiful, yet forgotten places internally. Her vocal style stresses love and creativity and provides the listener permission to feel. Soulbounce notes that “A.yoni’s work intersects with her art as she creates accessible spaces, fosters community, and encourages people to hear, see, and feel themselves in her music.”

Tracks in the Stacks: Austin Royale

Austin Royale the rapper, producer, songwriter from Durham, North Carolina constantly recreates himself. As he continues experimenting with various musical styles, and blending genres. Currently he is prepping the upcoming release of his debut album, “PLAN | A”. Previously performing under the name A-10, at the age of 24 Austin has been an ongoing influence in the local music scene for almost a decade. He has performed all over North Carolina as well as nationally, collaborating and sharing stages with numerous national recording artists.

Tracks in the Stacks: XOXOK

Keenan Jenkins, XOXOK, began his musical career during his Ph.D. studies at UNC-Chapel Hill, where he played open mics and local showcases at venues such as Jack Sprat, Local 506, and The Station between long days on the third floor of the psychology building. XOXOK crafts atmospheric soul music that is conceived on the fretboard, cultivated at the microphone, and cradled in headphones. The guitar and vocal influences are far-flung, but cohesive—see Jeff Buckley, Moses Sumney, and Anna Calvi, among others. His live performance is a model of intimacy and presence; armed with “sweet, ringing vocals” (Queen City Nerve), XOXOK delivers impassioned songs with unabashed conviction.

For The Kids

Starting Friday, June 18 at 7:00 PM, we’ll release exclusive storytimes where local Black authors will be reading stories around topics of Juneteenth, Black history, and freedom. Grab a comfy seat and dive in!

Storytime With Ms. Frances

Ms. Frances from Chapel Hill Public Library will read a couple of stories to celebrate and commemorate Juneteenth.

Booklist: Juneteenth For Kids

Explore a book list from Chapel Hill Public Library staff! Learn more about the history of Juneteenth through books in the CHPL collection

Explore The List

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Juneteenth Art Contest

The Office of Equity and Inclusion partnered with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP on an art contest where students throughout the district were asked to visualize freedom in any artistic way that they choose. We are proud of the 38 students who submitted their artwork this year! One winner from the elementary, middle, and high school categories received a $100 gift card. Additionally, one runner-up from each elementary, middle, and high school category received a $50 gift card. Thank you to everyone who participated, and a special thank you  to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP for sponsoring gift cards for the students.

View The Submissions

BIPOC Elected Officials Read the Juneteenth Proclamation

The BIPOC electeds from Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough are proud to present the Juneteenth Resolution Reading.

Made possible by a coalition of local partners