East Bay Express: Oakland archivists protect Black queer history from disappearing. “For queers, the holy sites are third spaces—those temples of acceptance: bars, cafes, bookstores, archives. On June 13, 2026, a house in the Eastmont Hills was activated as one. Inside, in acid-free sleeves and Hollinger boxes, the relics waited: a black-and-white photograph of a 1976 march down Market […]

Harvard Graduate School of Education: Black Teacher Archive Launches Revamped Website. “The Black Teacher Archive (BTA) announced the launch of a new website featuring a number of new ways to share and highlight its growing collection in the classroom and beyond.”

Spectrum News 1: Gov. Beshear posthu­mously pardons 43 who helped enslaved people flee. “Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., on Monday posthumously pardoned 43 people who were imprisoned for helping enslaved people escape to freedom, just days before Juneteenth. Beshear also proclaimed Friday, June 19, 2026, as Juneteenth National Freedom Day in Kentucky.”

Florida State University: Rare Emmett Till trial records donated to FSU Libraries. “Florida State University Libraries Special Collections & Archives has acquired a collection of rare legal documents donated by independent Emmett Till researchers Kevin Murphy and Colleen FitzPatrick.”

This Month in African American History: June Celebrations, Milestones, and Legacy Across the United States

June is a significant month in African American history, culture, and celebration across the United States. From Juneteenth commemorations to African American Music Appreciation Month, communities nationwide honor the achievements, resilience, and contributions of Black Americans who have shaped the nation’s history.

Juneteenth: America’s Second Independence Day

The most recognized African American observance in June is Juneteenth, celebrated annually on June 19. The holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that enslaved African Americans were free—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Today, Juneteenth serves as a celebration of freedom, family, culture, education, and community. In 2021, Juneteenth officially became a federal holiday in the United States. (National Museum of African American History⁠)

Across the country, communities celebrate with festivals, parades, educational programs, concerts, cultural exhibits, and family gatherings that honor the ongoing journey toward equality and justice. (National Museum of African American History⁠)

African American Music Appreciation Month

June is also recognized as African American Music Appreciation Month, a national observance established in 1979 to celebrate the profound impact African American musicians have had on American culture and music. Genres such as jazz, blues, gospel, R&B, hip-hop, rock and roll, soul, and house music all trace their roots to African American artists and innovators. (National Museum of African American History⁠)

Throughout June, museums, theaters, community organizations, and cultural institutions host performances, film screenings, educational events, and exhibitions highlighting the enduring influence of Black music on the world. (Houston Chronicle⁠)

Historical Milestones Remembered in June

June also marks several important moments in African American history:

• June 19, 1865 – Juneteenth and the announcement of freedom for enslaved African Americans in Texas.
• June 1963 – Civil rights leader Medgar Evers was assassinated, becoming a symbol of the struggle for voting rights and racial justice.
• June 1967 – The landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia struck down laws prohibiting interracial marriage.
• June 2021 – Juneteenth became the newest federal holiday in the United States. (National Museum of African American History⁠)

Honoring the Past, Building the Future

June provides an opportunity for Americans to reflect on the contributions of African Americans in every field—from civil rights and education to business, science, sports, government, and the arts. It is a time to celebrate progress, acknowledge challenges, and continue learning about the people and events that have shaped the nation.

Whether attending a Juneteenth festival, supporting Black-owned businesses, visiting museums, or exploring African American history with family and friends, June serves as a powerful reminder that Black history is American history.

As communities across the nation gather this month, they continue a tradition of remembrance, resilience, and celebration that honors the past while inspiring future generations. (National Museum of African American History⁠)

Historic African American Locations in Raleigh, North Carolina

Raleigh is home to several important African American historic sites that tell the story of freedom, education, entrepreneurship, civil rights, and community building.

1. Oberlin Village Historic District

Founded by formerly enslaved African Americans after the Civil War, Oberlin Village became one of the most successful Black communities in North Carolina. It is recognized as the state’s longest-surviving Reconstruction-era freedmen’s colony and was home to schools, churches, businesses, and community leaders.  

Location: Oberlin Road area, West Raleigh

2. Latta University Historic Park

The site preserves the legacy of Reverend Morgan London Latta and Latta University, a school that provided educational opportunities for African Americans during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The park features interpretive exhibits highlighting Black education and community development.  

Address: 1001 Parker Street

3. Dr. M.T. Pope House Museum

The only African American house museum in North Carolina, the Pope House was home to Dr. Manassa Thomas Pope, physician, veteran, businessman, and the first African American to run for mayor of a Southern capital city during the Jim Crow era. The museum contains original furnishings and thousands of artifacts from the Pope family.  

Address: 511 S. Wilmington Street

4. Shaw University

Founded in 1865, Shaw University is the oldest historically Black university in the South. The university played a major role in African American education and the Civil Rights Movement, including hosting the founding meeting of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).  

Address: 118 E. South Street

5. Saint Augustine’s University

Founded in 1867, Saint Augustine’s University has educated generations of African American leaders and professionals and remains an important part of Raleigh’s Black history.  

Address: 1315 Oakwood Avenue

6. Oberlin Cemetery

Established in 1873, this historic cemetery served the residents of Oberlin Village and contains the graves of many of the community’s founders, educators, veterans, and church leaders. It remains one of Raleigh’s most significant African American burial grounds.  

Address: 1014 Oberlin Road

7. City Cemetery

One of Raleigh’s oldest cemeteries, City Cemetery includes sections associated with enslaved and free African Americans. The cemetery provides insight into the lives of Black residents during the 19th century.  

Address: 110 Montague Lane

8. Historic South Park Neighborhood

South Park emerged as one of Raleigh’s most important African American neighborhoods during segregation. The community became home to Black churches, businesses, professionals, and civic leaders and remains a center of African American heritage.

Location: South of Downtown Raleigh

9. John Chavis Memorial Park

Named for educator and Revolutionary War veteran John Chavis, this historic park opened in 1938 as one of the premier recreational facilities for African Americans during segregation. Today it remains one of Raleigh’s most important cultural landmarks.

Address: 505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

10. Mount Hope Cemetery

One of Raleigh’s historic African American cemeteries, Mount Hope contains graves of prominent Black citizens, veterans, educators, ministers, and community leaders dating back generations.

Address: 120 Prospect Avenue

Suggested African American Heritage Tour of Raleigh

Together, these sites tell the story of Raleigh’s African American community from Reconstruction through the Civil Rights era and into the present day. They represent education, entrepreneurship, faith, political activism, and community resilience that helped shape Raleigh and North Carolina.  

Learn More

For additional educational resources and historical information about Juneteenth and African American history, visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture⁠.

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African American gospel music grew from spirituals, Black church traditions, blues, migration, and liberation struggle. 🎶

It became sacred sound with public power, carrying memory, endurance, testimony, and freedom across generations.

#Brewminate #GospelMusic #AfricanAmericanHistory #BlackHistory #MusicHistory

https://brewminate.com/african-american-gospel-music-liberation/

Dame Laura Knight

In 1926, Dame Laura Knight traveled to the USA where she gained access to the Johns Hopkins segregated wards, creating a series of sketches of patients + nurses. While in Baltimore, she befriended Pearl Johnson, an African American worker at the hospital. Johnson introduced Knight to the early American civil rights movement, bringing her to local lectures + concerts, prompting Knight to famously write that there was "a whole world of beauty" to explore in "Negro life" in America.

#damelauraknight #johnshopkins #portraits #portraiture #sketches #art #artworld #pearljohnson #ukartist #painter #blackamericanhistory #africanamericanhistory

The Wild West had heroes whose stories are rarely told. Discover the courage, resilience, and legacy of African American figures who helped shape frontier history.

#WesternHistory #AfricanAmericanHistory #HistoricalFiction

Read more: https://lonesomeaugustine.com/sure-as-a-gun-african-american-western-heroes/