Juneteenth Events

JUNETEENTH

JUNE 19, 1865

ABOUT JUNETEENTH

Juneteenth commemorates the ending of slavery and dates back to 1865. June 19, 1865, union soldiers including Colored soldiers led by major general Gordon Granger arrived at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was signed, January 1, 1863. 

JUNETEENTH 2023

MAKE PLANS TO JOIN US

FRI. JUNE 16, SAT. JUNE 17 & MON. JUNE 19

JUNETEENTH EVENTS

JUNETEENTH 2023 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Fri. June 16 @ 5.3P | TN BLACK CAUCUS STATE LEGISLATORS

Beck Cultural Exchange Center | Free 


Sat. June 17 @ 10A | ALEX HALEY 25TH ANNIVERSARY  

Haley Heritage Square |  Free 

Special Juneteenth exhibition unveiling


Mon. June 19 - Beck Open to Public

Beck Cultural Exchange Center   Free 

Tours available, Storyteller - Theresa G with performances at 2:30, 3:30 & 4:30

WBIR - LIVE Broadcast at 4:00p

FRIDAY, JUNE 16 | 5:3P

JUNETEENTH  TOWN HALL

TENNESSEE BLACK CAUCUS OF STATE LEGISLATORS

Racial Justice Town Hall Meetings


Following the death of Mr. Floyd, a panel consisting of leaders from the Black community ignited a public discussion on racial justice, June 19, 2020. Following this discussion, we felt firmly that this discourse must continue; so, it did. We have been in pursuit of racial justice and have held sessions monthly over the past year with white leaders, community leaders, youth leaders, Greek organizational leaders, Civil Rights leaders, Health officials, law enforcement, mayors, and elected officials.

SATURDAY, JUNE 17 | 10A

JUNETEENTH EXHIBIT COMMEMORATION & UNVEILING

25th Anniversary Alex Haley Statue

Haley Heritage Square

Commemoration


Join Ann Haley Brown, niece of Alex Haley, Theresa G, Storyteller, the Knoxville Gospel Choir, Drums Up Guns Down & the Kuumba Watoto Dancers and others for a day of celebration and commemoration.


A special exhibit will unveil in the park to commemorate the legacy of our great heritage.





Free Food, music, dance and more.

MONDAY, JUNE 19

Beck open special hours 10a-5p

JUNETEENTH FREEDOM DAY

Theresa G - Storytelling & Exhibits and more ...

Beck Cultural Exchange Center

Commemorate Juneteenth


Stop by for a tour, visit and ...


Theresa G - Storytelling at 2:30p, 3:30p & 4:30p


WBIR LIVE Broadcast at 4:30p


Join us as we commemorate and celebrate Juneteenth.

Buy Tickets Now

  Juneteenth 2021

New Emancipation Exhibit &

Juneteenth Memorial Tribute

Unveiling Sat. June 19 @ 10A

New Emancipation Exhibit


It is estimated that 250,000 enslaved people were emancipated 156 years ago on June 19th, 1865 in Galveston, Texas – two and half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. We will remember this significant part of our history as we unveil a new freestanding permanent Emancipation Exhibit commemorating Juneteenth and emancipation in Tennessee on August 8th, 1863.


Juneteenth Memorial Tribute


We will also have a special Juneteenth Memorial Tribute with an illumination of white roses on the Beck lawn. This event is in-person and will take place outside on the Beck grounds. This Tribute will be available for viewing for two weeks. We encourage you to view the exhibit as night falls.

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Thank You To Our Sponsors ...

RACIAL JUSTICE TOWN HALL

PART XII

"One Year Later ... Where Are We?"

Racial Justice Town Hall Meetings


Following the death of Mr. Floyd, a panel consisting of leaders from the Black community ignited a public discussion on racial justice, June 19, 2020. Following this discussion, we felt firmly that this discourse must continue; so, it did. We have been in pursuit of racial justice and have held sessions monthly over the past year with white leaders, community leaders, youth leaders, Greek organizational leaders, Civil Rights leaders, Health officials, law enforcement, mayors, and elected officials.


Racial Justice Part XII

Friday, June 18, 2021, we will rejoin our original panelist and others to look back over the past year and reflect on where are we now.

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JUNETEENTH 2021

Thursday, June 17 - Saturday, June 19

To commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people on June 19, 1865, Beck announces Juneteenth 2021 events.


THURSDAY, JUNE 17 | 12 NOON

MLK Luncheon (ticketed event)

Knoxville Botanical Gardens


FRIDAY, JUNE 18 | 4P

*Racial Justice Town Hall Part XII

Virtual


SATURDAY, JUNE 19 | 10A

*Emancipation Exhibit & Juneteenth Memorial Tribute

Beck Cultural Exchange Center (outside on the Beck grounds)


SATURDAY, JUNE 19 | 1P

MLK Juneteenth Celebration

World’s Fair Park Festival Lawn Tent


*These Beck sponsored events are proudly supported by First Horizon Foundation and Truist. 

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Click Below for Event Press Release

Mark Your Calendar and Make Plans to Join Us

 Juneteenth at Beck 2020

JUNE 19, 2020

4:00 PM

6:00 PM

Meet The Panelist

 Beck is proud to host a virtual Juneteenth Town Hall Meeting with a panel consisting of leaders from the black community for a discussion on racial justice. One hundred and fifty-five years after major general Gordon Granger landed at Galveston, Texas to announce that enslaved people were to be freed, we are still wrestling with freedom in every area for black people. Meet the Panelist ...

Vice-Mayor
Gwen 
McKenzie

McKenzie was elected as City Councilwoman for the 6th District on November 7, 2017 and was sworn in on December 16, 2017. McKenzie is the current Vice Mayor. She is a lifelong resident of the 6th District and has been active in the community for many years.

Vrondelia (Ronni) Chandler

Chandler, Executive Director of Project GRAD Knoxville, is a Knoxville native, educated in inner-city public schools and is an alum of Austin-East High School. Chandler is an educator by calling and by choice. Chandler completed 23 years in public higher education at Pellissippi State Community College serving in various admissions, student affairs, and administrative positions. 

Rev. Dr. 
John Butler

Dr. Butler serves as the Presiding Elder of the Knoxville District AME Zion Church over overseeing 9 churches, and as the Pastor of Clinton Chapel AME Zion Church. Dr. Butler serves as the President of the Knoxville Branch NAACP and on the Board of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center. Dr. Butler served on Knoxville Police Advisory Review Committee (PARC) and on the Board of the Great Schools Partnership (GSP). 

Phyllis Young
Nichols

Nichols is president and chief executive officer of the Knoxville Area Urban League. Nichols joined the Urban League in l994 after many years in public education and private business. Nichols is an ardent advocate for excellence and equity in public education specifically focused on equitable education reform and public policy efforts impacting students of color.

Deborah Porter

Porter is a native of Knoxville and is a graduate of Austin-East High School and the University of Tennessee (Knoxville). Presently, she works as a Financial Wellbeing Coach for Operation Hope Inc. and is retired from Knox County Government and Tennessee Valley Authority. Porter has been involved in the community and serves on many community boards and projects, such as serving as the Vice-President of the Knoxville Branch NAACP; FAITH Coalition Chair; University of TN Black Alumni Association; East TN Civil Rights Working Group Committee Member, Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission Chair.

Imani
Mfalme

Mfalme is a directly impacted organizer and activist and CEO of the Community Defense of East Tennessee Participatory Defense hub, and a National Participatory Defense Network Trainer/ Organizer on staff at De-Bug. Mflame is a member of the National Council of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and girls. Mflame is an artist and a writer, and community builder.

Atty. LeKenya
Middlebrook

Middlebrook is a native of Knoxville and a proud graduate of Austin-East High School, The University of Kentucky, and The University of Tennessee College of Law. In addition to her legal career, Middlebrook has developed and directed non-profit programs and served as a political consultant and organizer. Middlebrook serves through several organizations including serving as a board member for Girl Talk, Inc. and Vice-Chair of the Police Advisory and Review Committee (PARC). 

Pastor Daryl
Arnold

Pastor Arnold is the Founder and Senior Pastor of Overcoming Believers Church. 
Pastor Arnold was the first Board Chair for Girl Talk Inc, and he sits as co-chairman for The Change Center board of directors. Pastor Arnold presently serves on the Knoxville City Mayor’s Save Our Sons (S.O.S) Task Force under the umbrella of My Brothers Keeper initiated by President Obama, Task Force Member for the Knox County School Superintendent for Disparities in Educational Outcomes, Steering Committee for Community Connectors Knoxville under the umbrella of CEO’s for Cities Nationally, board member of Leadership Knoxville Foundation and Trinity Health Foundation, Johnson University Advisory board, and is a member of the Leadership TN Foundation.

Bishop Kevin
Perry

Bishop Perry has a Master’s Degree from Minnesota Graduate School of Theology, and was inducted into the College of Bishops, and Consecrated to The Holy office of Bishop in 2014. Bishop Perry serves as the Adjutant General and Jurisdictional Bishop of United Fellowship of churches. He has served on the Advisory Board for the Boys and Girls Club. Bishop formerly served Community Outreach Manager for Save Our Sons, an Initiative through President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Initiative. Bishop Perry serves as an Advisory Board Member for the Y12 Federal Credit Unions, and an Inaugural Board Member for the Community Building Institute, Co-owner of 443 Communications LLC, Volunteer Chaplain with the City of Knoxville Police Department, and is the Executive Director of the aMen Leadership Academy.

Rev. Dr. Harold
Middlebrook

Dr. Middlebrook, Sr. is the founder and pastor emeritus of Canaan Baptist Church of Christ, Inc. During the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Middlebrook served as an organizer with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), member of the strategy committee of the Community On the Move for Equality (COME), and worked with many justice centered efforts. Middlebrook is a founding member of the MLK Commemorative Commission, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Knoxville Area Urban League.

Dr. Theotis
Robinson

As a plaintiff in the lawsuit to desegregate the Knoxville City Schools, a participant in the downtown demonstrations at the lunch counters, movie theaters, and protest marches, Dr. Robinson has been an iconic leader in the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. Robinson was the first African American undergraduate student admitted to the University of TN, and the first Black elected to the Knoxville City Council in more than a half-century. He served as Vice President of Economic Development for The 1982 World’s Fair, and later as Vice President for Equity and Diversity at UT. Dr. Robinson was awarded the degree of Doctor of Social by the UT Board of Trustees, and currently writes a political opinion column for the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Dr. Daymond McDuffey, MD

Dr. McDuffey is a native of Knoxville. Dr. McDuffey is a 1996 graduate of Austin-East High School, 2000 graduate of Morehouse College, and 2005 graduate of Meharry Medical College. Dr. McDuffey is Board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Medical Director at Tristar Summit Medical Center

Juneteenth at Beck 2019



TOWN HALL MEETING

Members of Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators
Annual Juneteenth Commemoration
In recognition of the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States, 
Beck hosts an annual Juneteenth Celebration on June 19.
Juneteenth News Story
Juneteenth Living Museum- Austin- East High School Class of 1972

Beck Events

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