Juneteenth Jubilee Celebration 2025

Celebrate Juneteenth 2025 at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

Join us for an unforgettable Juneteenth celebration at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History as we honor the historic day that marked the beginning of true emancipation for millions of African Americans.

This year’s program will begin with a special welcome from Neil A. Barclay, President and CEO of the Wright Museum, followed by a stirring reflection on the meaning of Juneteenth delivered by Jamon Jordan, the City of Detroit’s official historian. His remarks will provide historical context from the City’s official history of Juneteenth and its enduring legacy in Detroit and beyond.

Observed annually on June 19, Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when the last group of enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally learned of their freedom—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.

At the Wright, Juneteenth is not only a celebration of freedom but also a day of reflection, learning, and recommitment to justice. The 2025 celebration will feature a full day of vibrant programming, family-friendly activities, cultural performances, and opportunities to explore the continued impact of this pivotal moment in American history.

This event is a space for all to come together—across generations and backgrounds—to honor the resilience of our ancestors, uplift our stories, and carry forward the fight for equality and liberation.

Come celebrate, reflect, and stand rooted in freedom.

Event Programming

A Journey to Freedom - Juneteenth Treasure Hunt

Juneteenth Treasure Hunt 
Time: All Day 11:00 AM-4:00 PM
Location: Lower Farnsworth
Audience: All Ages  

Program Overview: 

Celebrate the spirit of resilience and triumph with "Juneteenth: A Journey to Freedom," a visitor favorite ‘Treasure Hunt’ experience at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Knowledge is the treasure in this immersive journey that transports visitors through time, bringing the museum's halls to life with vibrant storytelling and interactive environments that honor Juneteenth's rich history and enduring legacy. Feel the energy of emancipation, the joy of early celebrations, and the unbreakable pursuit of freedom as you explore pivotal moments in African American history. Experience the power of this extraordinary journey, celebrating the path from enslavement to liberation and embracing the ongoing quest for justice and equality.

Flow & Groove: Silent Yoga with City Hop

Erin Julianna  
Time: 10:00AM-11:00 AM
Location: Rotunda  
Audience: All Ages  
Capacity Limit: 150

Program Overview:  

Silent Disco Yoga with Smooth Sounds is an immersive yoga experience that combines movement, meditation, and music uniquely. Participants wear wireless headphones that play smooth, soothing sounds while following the instructor's voice, creating a personalized and deeply meditative atmosphere. The calming music guides each movement, allowing yogis to tune out distractions and flow through poses in harmony with the rhythm. This blend of gentle soundscapes and yoga enhances mindfulness, encourages relaxation, and brings a new connection to the body and the mind. Perfect for all levels, Silent Disco Yoga with Smooth Sounds offers a refreshing escape and a deeper sense of inner peace.

Register

Juneteenth Program: Art as a Bridge – Healing and Unity Workshop

Time: 11:00 AM-4:00 PM (Three Sessions)  
Location: Latimer Cafe
Audience: All Ages  
Subjects: Harriet Tubman, Opal Lee, Juneteenth Flag

Program Overview:

Join us for a transformative series of workshops that celebrate Juneteenth by exploring art as a bridge for healing, freedom, and unity. Through guided discussions and creative expression, we will connect with the power of art to reflect on our past, embrace our freedom, and honor our ancestors' legacy.

Session Times:
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM  
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM  
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM  

This event is free and open to the community. All ages are welcome to participate in this Interactive and inspiring experience. 

Register

Women’s Committee Book Give-A-Way  

Time: 12:00 PM- 2:00 PM  
Location: Wright Community Room
Audience: Family & Children  
Capacity: 150  

Program Overview:

Join us for a joyful and enriching afternoon hosted by the Women’s Committee of the Charles H. Wright Museum! Families are invited to stop by the Wright Community Room, where children will receive free books to inspire a love of reading and learning. In celebration of Juneteenth, there will also be a special activity that honors the spirit of freedom and community.

Come share in the joy of stories, connection, and culture—while supplies last!

Clotilda: Last American Slave Ship - Documentary Screening

Time: 12:00 PM- 12:45 PM  
Location: GMT  
Audience: All Ages  
Registration Link Coming Soon

Program Overview:

In this gripping documentary, National Geographic uncovers the harrowing history of the Clotilda, the last known ship to bring enslaved Africans to the United States. Smuggled into Alabama in 1860—more than 50 years after the transatlantic slave trade was outlawed—the Clotilda represents one of America’s darkest chapters. Through expert analysis, archaeological discoveries, and the powerful voices of descendants from Africatown, this film sheds light on a hidden history long buried beneath the waters of the Mobile River. Clotilda: Last American Slave Ship is a poignant exploration of resilience, memory, and the enduring legacy of those who refused to be forgotten. 

The Clotilda Legacy: Exploring Freedom Through the Eyes of Descendants - Panel Discussion

Time: 1:00 PM- 2:30 PM
Location: GMT  
Audience: All Ages  
Moderator: Jamon Jordan
Panelists: Jeremy Ellis, Patrica Fraizer & Rae Chesney  

Registration Link Coming Soon

Program Overview:

This program invites attendees to a compelling panel discussion that centers around Clotilda, the last known slave ship to bring captives from Africa to the United States, and the enduring legacy of its survivors. The panel features descendants of Clotilda's passengers, who will share deeply personal reflections, historical insights, and stories passed down through generations. Together, they will explore the word "freedom"—what it meant to their ancestors, how it has evolved in their lives, and the ongoing significance it holds for their community today.

The conversation will dive into the complex history of enslavement, resilience, and the fight for liberation, offering unique perspectives on the true meaning of freedom. Through these shared experiences, the discussion will highlight the historical journey from bondage to liberation and address contemporary issues of identity, cultural preservation, and social justice. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how the legacy of the Clotilda continues to shape the lives and aspirations of its descendants, inspiring a broader dialogue on what freedom means for all of us. 

Outside Programming

Horseback Riding

Detroit Equestrian Play Therapy, LLC
Activation 12:00 PM-4:00 PM
Location: Wright Grounds  
Audience: All Ages  

Program Overview:

Black Horsemen and Women Were Real: A Day of Riding at The Wright

Join us for an unforgettable day at the Charles H. Wright Museum as we honor the rich and often untold history of Black horsemen and horsewomen in America. From skilled cowboys and Buffalo Soldiers to Black equestrians who shaped the rodeo and racing industries, this event will celebrate their legacy through an immersive experience of horseback riding, storytelling, and cultural exploration.

Participants will be able to ride horses, learn from expert trainers, and engage in discussions about the historical significance of Black equestrians. Families, history enthusiasts, and horse lovers alike are invited to connect with this powerful tradition and discover the contributions of Black riders to American history.

Juneteenth Art Chalk Walk

Time: 11:00 AM- 2:00 PM  
Location: Wright Grounds  
Audience: All Ages  

Program Overview:

The Juneteenth Art Chalk Walk is a dynamic and interactive community event celebrating Black history, resilience, and artistic expression. Led by local artist Miriam Uhura, this immersive experience transforms sidewalks and public spaces into colorful canvases that honor Juneteenth's legacy and the ongoing pursuit of freedom, justice, and equality.

Participants of all ages are invited to grab a piece of chalk and contribute to a collective masterpiece, creating vibrant works of art that reflect themes of liberation, identity, cultural pride, and the rich contributions of Black communities throughout history. Whether through powerful imagery, uplifting messages, or abstract designs, each creation adds to a larger visual story that brings history to life in a unique and accessible way.

This event fosters a spirit of togetherness, learning, and celebration. It encourages dialogue about the significance of Juneteenth while providing a platform for creative expression. Families, students, educators, and community members are welcome to participate, making this a truly inclusive and engaging experience.

Join us as we color the streets with history, creativity, and pride—one chalk drawing at a time!

Honoring the Ancestors Through Rhythm and Dance

Ngoma Za Amen Ra African Dance Presentation
Time: 1:00 PM- 2:00 PM  
Location: Outdoor Stage  
Audience: All Ages  

Program Overview:

Join us at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History for a powerful Juneteenth celebration with Ngoma Za Amen-Ra, a company with over 45 years of experience dedicated to preserving and presenting the rich traditions of West African drum, dance, and folklore.

Rooted in the rhythms of West Africa and infused with diasporic influences from Haiti, Cuba, and beyond, Ngoma Za Amen-Ra has shared its artistry across the globe—from the Caribbean to Africa, Europe, South America, and throughout the United States.

In this vibrant and interactive performance, the ensemble will honor the ancestors through traditional drumming, dance, and song. The audience will be invited to move, sing, and celebrate together in a dynamic experience that blends education with high-energy entertainment.

Come ready to be inspired, uplifted, and engaged as we commemorate Juneteenth through the power of culture and community.

Wise Guys Chess Club 

Time: 1:00 – 5:00pm 
Location: Outdoor Latimer Cafe 
Audience: All Ages 
Presenter: Arthur Johnson 

Program Overview:

Master your moves and connect with the community as Wise Guys Chess Club makes its way to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Discover the art of strategy, the joy of play, and the opportunity to learn in this engaging experience where curiosity meets connection. Players of all levels are invited to sharpen their skills, explore new tactics, and enjoy open play in a welcoming environment. Whether you're new to the game or looking to elevate your strategy, this interactive gathering celebrates intellectual growth, critical thinking, and the timeless power of chess to bring people together. Come take your seat at the table—where every move is a lesson, and every game is a story.

Juneteenth Field Day Activities

Time: 2:00PM-4:00PM
Location: Outdoor Stage & Wright Grounds  
Audience: All Ages  
Registration Link Coming Soon

Program Overview:

In celebration of Juneteenth—the day commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and the enduring fight for freedom and equality—we invite families, friends, and community members to come together for a joyful Juneteenth Freedom Field Day!

This energetic outdoor event honors the spirit of resilience, unity, and liberation with a variety of classic field games designed to foster teamwork, laughter, and healthy competition.

Featured Activities:

Sack Races 
Hop your way to victory! Participants race to the finish line inside burlap sacks in this timeless test of balance and speed.

Water Balloon Toss 
Grab a partner and a balloon! Teams carefully toss water balloons back and forth, stepping farther apart with each round—until the last unpopped balloon wins.

Three-Legged Race 
Tie up and team up! Pairs of participants race with one leg bound together. Communication, rhythm, and cooperation are the keys to winning.

Tug of War 
Strength in unity! Teams face off in a battle of brawn and coordination as they pull with all their might to bring the opposing team over the line.

Relay Races 
Pass the baton! Teams will dash through a multi-stage relay course designed to challenge agility and endurance in a fun, fast-paced race.

Join us for a day filled with laughter, community spirit, and celebration of freedom through fun. Whether you're racing, cheering, or just enjoying the sunshine, the Juneteenth Freedom Field Day promises unforgettable memories for all ages.

The Cookout: Black Culinary Heritage & Foodways

Chef Nezaa Bandele
A Community Celebration of Black Food Traditions, Culture, and Sustainability
Presenter: Chef Nezaa Bandele
Time: 4:00 PM-5:00 PM
Location: Outside of Latimer Café
Audience: All Ages  

Program Overview:  

"The Cookout" is an immersive community gathering that honors the rich culinary traditions of the African diaspora, exploring the deep historical and cultural connections between food, identity, and resistance. From Southern soul food and Gullah Geechee cuisine to Afro-Caribbean and West African culinary influences, this event will celebrate the flavors, stories, and legacies that have shaped Black foodways.

Through live cooking demonstrations, interactive discussions, and tastings, attendees will engage with renowned chefs, food historians, and community activists to explore the intersections of food, culture, sustainability, and social justice.

Juneteenth Afterglow - Live Music

Time: 6:00PM-8:30PM
Location: Outside of Latimer Café
Audience: All Ages  
Presenter: Jyn & Juice  

Program Overview:  

Celebrate Juneteenth with an unforgettable evening of powerful artistic expression at Rooted in Freedom. This immersive event centers live music that speaks to the resilience, history, and enduring pursuit of freedom within the African American experience.

Detroit’s own band, Jyn & Juice, will light up the stage with vibrant performances that pay homage to the cultural legacy of Juneteenth. With music that moves both hearts and bodies, they’ll help create a space of reflection, celebration, and connection.

Join us as we honor this historic day through the transformative power of art, community, and culture.

Past Juneteenth Events

Freedom Freedom Freedom Choir

Juneteenth 2023 "Freedom, Freedom, Freedom" video was created as a way to focus the purpose of the holiday celebration: the freedom that was finally made real for the formerly enslaved people in Galveston, Texas in 1865 and included a powerful 1831 Detroit Underground Railroad freedom story.

The video features the official historian of the City of Detroit, Jamon Jordan and the 'Freedom Choir', a collection of singers from Macedonia Baptist Church who provided the musical backdrop.

Watch the Video

Spirits Soar Concert

The concert is a musical review and celebration of genres and songs from the 19th through 21st centuries, and a nod to June as Black Music Month, where friends and family members of the Wright Museum staff display their musical prowess while remembering and celebrating the musicians and history of the music.

Watch the Video

We Echo Freedom!

In "We Echo Freedom" youth and historical leaders from Detroit are featured and consider how freedom has resonated since the days of the Underground Railroad until now.

Watch the Video

Important Civic Documents

13th Amendment

Abolition of Slavery (1865): Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

14th Amendment

Civil Rights (1868): All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

15th Amendment

Voting Rights (1870): The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.  

Emancipation Proclamation

January 1, 1863

A Transcription

By the President of the United States of America:

A Proclamation.

Whereas, on the twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit:

"That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.

"That the Executive will, on the first day of January aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in which the people thereof, respectively, shall then be in rebellion against the United States; and the fact that any State, or the people thereof, shall on that day be, in good faith, represented in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such State shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State, and the people thereof, are not then in rebellion against the United States."

Now, therefore I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested as Commander-in-Chief, of the Army and Navy of the United States in time of actual armed rebellion against the authority and government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion, do, on this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and in accordance with my purpose so to do publicly proclaimed for the full period of one hundred days, from the day first above mentioned, order and designate as the States and parts of States wherein the people thereof respectively, are this day in rebellion against the United States, the following, to wit:

Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, (except the Parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. John, St. Charles, St. James Ascension, Assumption, Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Martin, and Orleans, including the City of New Orleans) Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, (except the forty-eight counties designated as West Virginia, and also the counties of Berkley, Accomac, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Ann, and Norfolk, including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth[)], and which excepted parts, are for the present, left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued.

And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.

And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defence; and I recommend to them that, in all cases when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages.

And I further declare and make known, that such persons of suitable condition, will be received into the armed service of the United States to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service.

And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the eighty-seventh.

By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN
WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.