Celebrate June with AARP!

Posted on 06/01/22

Illustration of a Black woman jumping in air in celebration

It’s said that June is the “gateway to summer,” a month of blossoming nature and the melody of a brand new season. It makes sense, then, that June would also be home to celebrations observing the power of liberty and song. 

June brings the convergence of Juneteenth, a holiday long-observed by the Black community and newly recognized by the United States government; Black Music Month, a national observation instituted by President Jimmy Carter in 1979; and LGBTQIA Pride Month, begun by President Bill Clinton in 1999 as “Gay and Lesbian” Pride Month. 

Juneteenth, essentially Black American Independence Day, commemorates the liberation of enslaved Blacks following the defeat of the Confederacy. Although President Abraham Lincoln had decreed freedom for the enslaved in 1863 with the Emancipation Proclamation, it was not until Union soldiers arrived in Texas slaves there learned of this development. Juneteenth began as a celebration in Galveston in 1865 and has been celebrated in Black communities for a century and a half. In 2021, President Joe Biden signed a law establishing it as a federal holiday. 

This year, AARP is excited to observe the importance of this holiday with a number of events throughout the nation, including virtual lectures.

JUNETEENTH EVENTS

Register for Juneteenth: The Destruction of Slavery in the Civil War with author Richard Bell offered June 3 by AARP Florida and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Florida International University.

Join AARP California and Dr. Thanayi Jackson of California Polytechnic State University for Journey to Juneteenth – An Elevated Conversation, which includes a discussion on the meaning of Juneteeth and its evolution through the years.

Other Juneteenth events supported by AARP local teams include a parade in Philadelphia and celebrations throughout Texas, including the Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s tribute to civil rights icon Odetta Holmes.

BLACK MUSIC MONTH EVENTS

Black Music Month, a celebration of the cross-cultural influence of Black artistry that spans every genre, obviously means great parties with great soundtracks. 

AARP Atlanta will feature platinum-selling R&B group After 7 for a free couch concert on June 2nd, for which you can register here

AARP New York will host another couch concert featuring house icon Crystal Waters on June 9th. You can register for the 6P ET event here

Virtual concerts continue with AARP California, which on June 23rd will feature a selection of favorite performances from Black band leaders who performed with San Jose Jazz during the 2022 Winter Fest and New Works Fest festivals. Highlights include performances from Harriet Tubman, Marquis Hill, ASTU, Michael ‘Tiny’ Lindsey, Mike Blankenship, and Cava Menzies. Learn more and register here

LGBTQIA PRIDE MONTH 

Pride Month is an evolution from “Gay Pride Day”, first celebrated in 1970 to commemorate the then one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, a series of protests for gay rights and freedom from persecution from law enforcement. 

This year, AARP offers a number of virtual events including The Dandy Andy Tour of The Andy Warhol Museum offered June 8 by AARP Pennsylvania.

There are also in-person events like the fireside chat and intimate musical performance with Tre G offered June 9 at the Missouri History Museum as part of its Gateway to Pride Initiative.  

While we’re continually reminded of all the social justice work left to be done in this country, these holidays encourage moments of gratitude for the achievements of our communities in the areas of truth and acceptance. 

Whether it’s celebrating freedom to live and prosper, the liberty to love who you choose, or the power of Black artistry, June is always on beat. Look for additional events commemorating these holidays and other summer celebrations on your community calendar.

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