Kwame Lillard was a Nashville Civil Rights Leader and Freedom Rider who started the African American Cultural Alliance in 1983 because he wanted a place to promote the positive aspects of African culture through music, history, poetry, food and dance. This Friday (June 19) the organization will host Juneteenth615 at Centennial Park, the same place where Lillard and Matthew Walker integrated the pools in 1961.
The free, family-friendly event features food trucks, music and ultimate kids zone. The Nashville Predators will bring their game truck and have activities for children and Nashville SC will have a watch party for the FIFA World Cup match between USA versus Australia.
“ I love to see people dancing, happy, smiling, it’s a joy just to watch,” African American Cultural Alliance CEO Jeneene Blackman said. “It’s a time when we remember those who fought before us. We can’t imagine all they went through, the resilience, the bravery that it took. This is a day that we celebrate freedom, but we also remember the legacy, and we also remember that we’re resilient, too, and that we can be brave. We can stand on the shoulders of giants and do anything. If you want to learn more about culture, you should come out to the Juneteenth celebration and see what’s going on. It’s a wonderful event to learn history, and also just bring your family, relax, have some food, enjoy the time together.”
Other Juneteenth celebrations this week are hosted at the Tennessee State Museum and Rod McGaha’s Sound as Liberation Sessions on Friday and Saturday (June 20).
Additional events start tonight (June 17) with The Blackbyrds at City Winery, tomorrow night (June 18) WNXP Trivia at the Blue Room and The Protomen begin their three nights at Marathon Music Works. Saturday, John Vincent III presents Blue June Music Fest at The Basement East. Featuring performances from Emma Andersen, mxmtoon, Kate Stephenson, Ethan Regan, former WNXP Nashville Artists of the Month Phosphorescent, and John Vincent III himself. Wrap up the weekend on Sunday (June 21) with Diarrhea Planet at Eastside Bowl and KELS at the 58.
