As another Back Music Month comes to an end, I reflect back on the ongoing impact of Black Music not just in the United States but worldwide. As an avid concertgoer and overall music fan, I cannot emphasize enough the role that music, and even more so, Black Music has on society. Just look at the recent news of the joint Brandy & Monica concert, the ongoing “Cowboy Carter” tour with Beyoncé, and the many music festivals happening this summer across the globe.
Black Music Month offers an opportunity to celebrate the profound influence of African American musicians on American music and culture, not just in June, but also provides something to embrace all year long. As summer begins, it’s a great time to reflect on the diverse genres and artists that have shaped the music landscape, from blues and jazz to gospel, hip-hop, and R&B, among many others.
To close out this year’s Black Music Month: NPR Tiny Desk Features, let’s see who’s bringing the heat, and a brief reminder of how this month came to be…check them out below:
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Alex Isley
Living Colour
Rico Nasty
Just in case you may have missed this year’s NPR’s Tiny Desk Black Music Month line-up, see the celebrated music albums’ anniversaries being featured:
Stanley Clarke – 50 Years of School Days
Living Colour – 35 Years of Time’s Up
CeCe Winans – 30 Years of Alone in His Presence
E-40 – 30 Years of In a Major Way
Beenie Man – 25 Years of Art and Life
Amerie with The Backyard Band – 20 Years of Touch
Wiz Khalifa – 15 Years of Kush & Orange Juice
Alex Isley – 10 Years of LUXURY
Rico Nasty – 5 Years of Nightmare Vacation
As noted by Bobby Carter, Tiny Desk Concerts host and producer. “These artists might not be the first you hear in the Pop culture conversation, but they are crown jewels in Black culture. These are our icons.“
Summer is a great time to start reading a new book!! There are so many great spaces and places where you can get your literary fix! To be honest, summer is when I get to catch up on a lot of books that have been added to my “To Be Read” list. As a matter of fact, two of the books on this list I am currently reading (Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson and Rivals by Jilly Cooper)! Since we are also halfway through 2025, this is a great time to find your next read and accomplish one of the New Year’s resolutions!
June is also Caribbean Heritage & Pride Month, so I definitely added a few nuggets under each theme for your reading pleasure.
Alright good folks….I made it to Beijing and in one piece! Talk about a long travel day, and how about we pretty much lost a day lol….Left on Wednesday night and arrived in Friday morning.
Now before we arrived in Beijing we had a brief layover in Seoul, Korea. Now while we didn’t have enough time to venture into the city we did get a chance to try some good food and snacks. So to tickle my fancy, I tried the fish cakes and crab and fish cake, and then a few sweet treats…definitely quite tasty if I say so myself!
Just enough to tide me over before the second leg of the trip. Oh and let me also say, the airport in Seoul was definitely on my list of cleanest airports…major Kudos! In addition, with regards to airlines, I would definitely fly on Korean Air again! Comfy seats, delicious meal, nice film and television selection, and good service!
So that wrapped up my layover and next stop…Beijing! Let me just start out by saying, I’m not really sure of my expectations, but let’s just say I’m not disappointed so far…
Upon our arrival, our host guides picked us up and gave us a mini lesson while en route to our hotel. So of course we know the 2008 Summer Olympics took place in Beijing (will share pics of Beijing Olympic Park in later posts), it is also the capital city of China, and has over 22 million residents. As one of the world’s most populous cities it is truly a global city and one of the world’s leading centers of culture, politics, business, technology, and tourism. In just the few hours that I have been here, you can clearly see it is a bustling city.
Where I’m staying for this trip is on a strip known as “Wangfujing Pedestrian Street,” it gets this name because the majority of the area is made for walking. Pretty much you can walk around the area get your shopping done and fill your stomach. Within this main area you can find a Nike, Apple, and Fila store, plus a Zara and a Starbucks. And for my luxury brand fans, you got Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, and Hermes all in close proximity of each other. But that’s not it, there is also a pretty good size mall, “Beijing APM” that has 6 levels of more shopping, food (exotic foods included), and entertainment. While this area is very much commercialized, this is not a new concept. Since the middle of the Ming Dynasty there has always been commercial activities in the area.
This trip so far has been about trying new experiences, so to cap off the night, I decided to try out this hot pot spot for a late night dinner. Just in case you may not have heard of the hot pot (also known as steamboat) dish, it is a dish of soup/stock that is kept simmering while adding an assortment of meats/seafood, vegetables, noodles, and soy-based foods. Think of it like the precursor to the Instant Pot.
Quite tasty if I say so myself!
I think that just about wraps up for the day! Stay tuned for the next day’s events…the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City!
A change in seasons is on the horizon…The summer solstice is the day with the longest period of daylight and shortest night of the year in that hemisphere, when the sun is at its highest position in the sky.
**Parts of this article was originally published in 2021. It was updated in 2025.**
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” – Nelson Mandela
Today marks the 160th anniversary of the message of freedom being delivered to those enslaved in Texas, also known as Juneteenth (a portmanteau of “June” and “nineteenth”). A celebration of emancipation, liberation, and Black Joy!!
What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth refers to June 19th, 1865, the day when Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas to inform the 250,000 enslaved Black people that they were free. Keep in mind the Emancipation Proclamation (which ended slavery) had gone into effect January 1st, 1863 (also the start of watch night services), so Texas would not get this memo for almost two and a half years later. People wonder why Black people cannot wait for change…and, why we are persistent about consistent upward and forward movement! Why are Black people not quick to trust, because of past failures and screw ups like what happened in Galveston, TX. Nevertheless, the chains are breaking and the truth is being revealed.
Juneteenth is not only a day to celebrate, but also another day to inform the masses, continue speaking out on injustices, and always a day to remember! It’s also another excuse for me to celebrate my Blackness and create more ways to express #BlackJoy and agency. This holiday is also an opportunity to instill values of self-improvement, racial uplift, and reclamation of the family unit. These values were personified through religious sermons and the singing of negro spirituals, reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, rodeos, and the preservation of slave food traditions and delicacies (ex. BBQ and soul food). Juneteenth serves as another holiday that allows Black people to come together, fellowship, and simply be free!
Much like how the message of freedom was delayed in its delivery to those enslaved in Texas, one could say there is a delayed recognition (on a larger scale) of the Juneteenth holiday. With all of the the national protests, police violence, and continuous murder of Black and Brown bodies of last year the U.S. would be reminded of past moments of resistance and endurance. This acknowledgement rebirth is what I like to think of as a memory survival. As Isabel Wilkerson writes in her amazing book, The Warmth of Other Suns:The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration, “The people from Texas took Juneteenth Day to Los Angeles, Oakland, Seattle, and other places they went.” Thank goodness the memory of Juneteenth will always be present, because we cannot afford to have any more delays, these are moments that we need right now and always!
As another Juneteenth celebration takes place, I remain hopeful and vigilant, and I am definitely excited. Juneteenth is a holiday worthy of international recognition. Hopefully, the celebration of this holiday is not just for a moment or season, but for an infinity of lifetimes. With each year, more and more people are learning about the importance and significance of Juneteenth!!
Now, even though I may not be from Texas, I take Juneteenth as my Independence Day/Emancipation Day, because clearly July 4th is not!!
Now to get you in the spirit, check out some of these traditional food & drinks, and a few resources to expand your mind!
Traditional Food & Drink to Enjoy
Red Foods & Drink [Red foods and drinks are the most prominent feature on a Juneteenth menu]: Red Punch, Red Velvet Cake, Hibiscus tea, Red beans & rice, Strawberries, and Watermelon
BBQ Foods: Chicken, Pork, Ribs, Hot links, and Brisket
Prosperity Meals/Sides: Collard greens and Cabbage, Black-eyed peas, Yams, Sweet Potatoes, Corn, and Cornbread
Even if this is your first year, make sure it is not your last!!
Juneteenth Flag (The above Blue color represents the horizon blue and the red color below is symbolic of the ground soaked with blood…The five-pointed star refers both to Texas and to the “freedom of African Americans in all 50 states”; surrounding it is a new star, which represents a new beginning for all.)
As you know, I like to chronicle my travel journeys, and this trip is no different! Each year, I like to take at least one international trip, and this year I am headed off to Asia! I’m definitely very excited about this trip, as I’ve never been before, and I’m looking forward to soaking in some knowledge and having some fun too!
Juneteenth is about freedom! On June 19th in 1865, two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, Union troops announced to over 250,000 unaware Black folks in Texas…that they were free! Over half a century later, in 2021, this day was officially named a federal holiday.
Here we are in 2025, revisiting the turbulent times of our horrid past. History is being erased, just as swiftly as it is to take a step forward, and freedom is back in question. Every day, I wonder what craziness will take place in these United States. But as we approach another Juneteenth, I am reminded that even when the message is late, it will still be received!
And even with all that is happening day by day, I am still encouraged! Juneteenth is another day to celebrate, find the joy in life, and reflect on the future!
As we prepare for another Juneteenth holiday, if you are looking for something to do to celebrate, check out what is happening in a city near you…
*Houston & Galveston, Texas: The Houston Museum of African American Culture will host its free Juneteenth celebration on June 19, with exhibitions, panels, face painting, immersive theater, and more. The Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy, an organization founded by formerly enslaved African Americans, is also. hosting a Juneteenth festival at their visitor center with events that include a fireside chat with the author and scholar Marc Lamont Hill. In Galveston, the Galveston Historical Foundation’s Juneteenth exhibit “And Still We Rise…” will be open daily from June 16 to 22 ($11.70 for adults). For more outdoor exploration, take a visit to the city’s landmarks on Galveston’s self-guided Freedom Walk map.
*Atlanta, Georgia: A few days after Juneteenth, on June 21, Camille Rose’s Beauté Noir Fest will feature a music performance by Atlanta native Mariah the Scientist, as well as panels, workshops, and food vendors.
*New York City, New York: In Manhattan on June 19, the Guggenheim, along with the DreamYard Projects’ Rad(ical) Poetry Consortium, is hosting a Late Shift event with poetry, dialogue, and performances. Tickets are free for members and $30 for adults. You can also check out the African Burial Ground National Monument, one of the most extensive known burial grounds in North America. On Juneteenth, the outdoor monument and the exhibits at the visitor center are free and open.
*Montgomery, Alabama: Check out some of these historical sites to reflect on Juneteenth. Visit the Legacy Museum, followed by a 15-minute river boat ride to the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park. On June 19, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, one of the nation’s first memorials dedicated to Black Americans who were victims of lynchings, will be open and free to the public.
*Tulsa, Oklahoma: Once known as Black Wall Street, the Greenwood District is creating opportunities to observe Juneteenth while learning about Black History. Museums like Greenwood Rising are educating visitors on the district’s history as a “Black business mecca” and the site of racial violence during the Tulsa Massacre. (Tickets start at $15 for adults and $8 for children 17 and under.)
*Oakland, California: Check out the Hella Juneteenth Festival on June 19, put on by the Bay Area arts collective, Hella Creative. Events will feature music, vendors, and an outdoor market at the Oakland Museum of California. You can also take part in viewing the West Oakland Mural Project, a public art installation and nonprofit that highlights the history of Black women in the Black Panther Party.
*Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Explore the Germantown neighborhood and visit the Johnson House, once a way station on the Underground Railroad. The city will also host a parade (through West Philly) and festival on June 22, with celebrations continuing at an outdoor festival at Malcolm X Park.
As an extra bonus, check out this past episode where I talk with my friend and academic colleague about why Juneteenth Matters!!
Black Future Feminist 