Juneteenth Arts & Jazz Festival Returns Honoring Kansas City Legends

KANSAS CITY, MO – The 3rd Annual Kansas City Memorial Juneteenth Jazz & Arts Festival returns honoring Jay McShann and Horace Peterson of the Black Archives of Mid-America with National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF) Chairman, Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., as a featured guest and performer. The event will take place on Saturday, June 12^th, 2010 at the Marriott Country Club Plaza Hotel, with a Concert Performance in Mill Creek Park at 6:00PM. Music and special activities, including the Art Exhibit by Aye Aton, will be open to the public with free admission from 1:00PM to 9:00PM.

Dr. Myer’s concert performance will feature other musicians Derrick Brown (Bass), Wilton Knott (Percussion), Aye Aton (Drums), Earlton Batles (Congas & Percussion), Eddy Dunn (Congas & Percussion), Horace Washington (Flute & Sax), and Noah Jelks (Drums). Performances are recognized as a part of the Juneteenth Jazz objectives, embracing the legacy of jazz as a part of Black Music Month and the ongoing efforts to educate the public about the significance of the Juneteenth. Featured Exhibit Artist, Aye Aton, in addition to being a world-traveled musician, is also an accomplished painter, designer and muralist with artwork that has toured museums, galleries, and civic institutions across the country, such as The DuSable Museum of African-American History in Chicago, Illinois, and The Masur Museum of Art, in Monroe, Louisiana.

More activities and participants to be announced. Sponsors of this special event include National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, National Association of Juneteenth Jazz Presenters, Kansas City Neighborhood Tourists Development Fund, and KC Jazz Ambassadors. For more information regarding the event including sponsorship and advertisement, contact (816) 309-2419, e-mail kansascity@juneteenthamerica.us or visit the organization’s website at kc.juneteenthamerica.us.

#  #  #

Juneteenth America of Kansas City, Inc. (JAKC) is a non-profit organization with the objective to educate the public about the significance of “Juneteenth” June 19^th, 1865 in American history and to celebrate the Jazz legacy.  For more information about the organization, visit kansascity.juneteenthamerica.us.

Mississippi Now the 36th State to Recognize Juneteenth

Mississippi’s Rev. Dr. Ronald Myers Glad for State Acknowledgement of Juneteenth

Sen. Willie Simmons Champions Juneteenth Legislation in Mississippi

Rep. Byron Clark Sen. Willie Simmons Rep. Rufus Straughter Dr. Ronald Myers

(Jackson, MS) – National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign Chairman and Belzoni, Mississippi resident, Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., was glad to hear the news about the passage of S.C.R. 605 by the Mississippi Legislature to recognize the “19th of June” as Juneteenth Freedom Day. The Magnolia State is now the 36th state to celebrate the end of enslavement in America.

“Mississippi joins Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Delaware, Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, California, Wyoming, Illinois, Missouri, Connecticut, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Colorado, Arkansas, Oregon, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, Virginia, Washington State, Tennessee, Massachusetts, North Carolina, West Virginia, South Carolina, Vermont, Nebraska, Kansas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana and the District of Columbia in recognizing the end of enslavement in America,” states Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Founder & Chairman of the National Juneteeenth Observance Foundation (NJOF).

Juneteenth commemorates the day when slaves in the last geographic area in America where slavery existed learned of their freedom. This took place on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, when Union General Gordon Granger read General Order #3, announcing that “all slaves are free” by Proclamation of President Abraham Lincoln. The Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on September 22, 1862, and issued on January 1, 1863. It took over two and a half years for the news to travel to southwest Texas.

Throughout recent years, Juneteenth has been celebrated in cities and towns across Mississippi, including Jackson, Greenville, Greenwood, Hattiesburg, Belzoni, Cleveland, Meridian, Vicksburg, Tchula, Columbus, Gulfport, Natchez, Biloxi, Brandon, Louisville, McComb, Holly Springs, D’Iberville, Waynesboro, Tupelo and other communities.

“We especially appreciate Senator Willie Simmons for sponsoring the legislation that has made all of this possible,” states Dr. Myers. “We also want to thank Rep. Rufus Straughter and Rep. Byron Clark for their persistent efforts in supporting Juneteenth at the state capitol.”

Now that Juneteenth is recognized in Mississippi, Juneteenth supporters hope Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) will co-sponsor legislation in the U.S. Senate to make Juneteenth Independence Day a National Day of Observance through legislation that will be introduced by Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) in April of 2010.

In a recent letter to Rev. Myers, concerning S.R. 19, introduced in the U.S. Senate in 2009, Sen Thad Cochran states, “I appreciate the information regarding the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation. Senator Burris’ resolution seeking recognition and support of a National Juneteenth Observance day unanimously passed in the Senate.” Rev. Myers is hopeful that congress will pass similiar legislation this year to place Juneteenth on all calendars.

“We are not asking for a paid federal holiday, which will be a burden on tax-payers, but a National Day of Observance like Flag Day or Patriot Day,” states Dr. Myers. “As more states like Mississippi pass Juneteenth legislation, with only fourteen states remaining, we hope that President Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress will finally establish a day for the observance and celebration of the end of slavery in America.”

Thousands of petitions have been forwarded to the White House urging President Obama to make Juneteenth a National Day of Observance and to establish a Presidential National Juneteenth Commission to provide advice on how the annual observance of Juneteenth Independence Day can bring all Americans together with the goal of promoting greater understanding and racial healing. A similar petition drive was successful in getting the USPS to
issue a Juneteenth “Flags of Freedom” postage stamp in 2012.

“The official recognition of Juneteenth Independence Day and the end of enslavement by state governments and the U.S. congress are very significant steps in bringing healing to America from the legacy of enslavement,” states Rev. Dr. Myers, also Founder & Chairman of the National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC), the National Day Reconciliation & Healing From the Legacy of Enslavement and the annual WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance.

For information on the National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign, the National Day of Reconciliation & Healing From the Legacy of Enslavement, the WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance, and Juneteenth Celebrations in Mississippi, contact Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D. at 662-247-3364 or e-mail: JuneteenthDOC@yahoo.com or web sites: http://www.NationalJuneteenth.com, http://www.Juneteenth.us, http://www.19thofJune.com and http://www.njclc.com.

Kansas City Star Article “Today’s Juneteenth festival stirs up jazz and art” – 6/2009

By Rachel Skybetter
June 13, 2009
Kansas City Star

(Kansas, Missouri) — Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery, and June is Black Music Month. So why not find a way to honor both? That’s exactly what the Rev. Ronald Myers Sr., founder and chairman of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, will do today.

The Black Health Care Coalition of Kansas is hosting the second annual Kansas City Memorial Juneteenth Jazz & Arts Festival from 1 to 11 p.m. at the Marriott Country Club Plaza hotel.

The day begins with a reception for artist Alvin Carter, whose painting “The President Barack Obama Trail” will be exhibited for the day. On Friday Carter will present the painting to the president during a Juneteenth celebration in Washington, D.C.

The music kicks off around 6 p.m., and Myers, on piano and trumpet, will be joined by bassist Derrick Brown and percussionists Aye Aton and Wilton Knott. The ensemble will perform original arrangements.

“The music will reflect upon Kansas City’s great African-American jazz legacy,” Myers said.

John Thompson, executive producer of the National Association of Juneteenth Jazz Presenters and executive director of Juneteenth America, said the festival is dedicated to the preservation of jazz.

He said he recently attended a jazz festival in Los Angeles and was surprised to find that contemporary musicians Erykah Badu and De La Soul were the headlining acts.

“I just came to the conclusion that jazz had been redefined in America, and I just didn’t know it,” Thompson said. “I came to hear the jazz, and it wasn’t like any jazz.” And so, in the lobby of the Marriott, Thompson and Myers hope to bring back the jazz for which Kansas City is known.

Today’s festival also will honor Horace M. Peterson, the founder of the Black Archives of Mid-America, who helped create the first Kansas City Juneteenth Festival in the 1980s.

Juneteenth, or Freedom Day, is a bit of a misnomer. Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation went into effect Jan. 1, 1863, but it wasn’t until June 19, 1865, that the last of the slaves were freed, in Galveston, Texas. “Juneteenth” is a blending of the words “June” and “nineteenth.” —— TODAY The Second Annual Kansas City Memorial Juneteenth Jazz & Arts Festival is from 1 to 11 p.m. at the Marriott Country Club Plaza hotel, 45th and Main streets. The event is free.

To reach Rachel Skybetter, send e-mail to rskybetter@kcstar.com.

To see more of The Kansas City Star, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.kansascity.com.

Copyright (c) 2009, The Kansas City Star, Mo.

Ohio Makes 35 States to Recognize Juneteenth

(Columbus, OH) – The state statutes in Ohio designate the “19th of June” as Juneteenth National Freedom Day, “to acknowledge the freedom, history, and culture that June 19, 1865, the day on which the last slaves in the United States were set free in Texas, has come to symbolize.” This is great news for Juneteenth supporters throughout the country.

“Ohio joins Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Delaware, Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, California, Wyoming, Illinois, Missouri, Connecticut, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Colorado, Arkansas, Oregon, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, Virginia, Washington State, Tennessee, Massachusetts, North Carolina, West Virginia, South Carolina, Vermont, Nebraska, Kansas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana and the District of Columbia in recognizing the end of enslavement in America,” states Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Founder & Chairman of the National Juneteeenth Holiday Campaign and the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF).

Juneteenth commemorates the day when slaves in the last geographic area in America where slavery existed learned of their freedom. This took place on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, when Union General Gordon Granger read General Order #3, announcing that “all slaves are free” by Proclamation of President Abraham Lincoln. The Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on September 22, 1862, and issued on January 1, 1863. It took over two and a half years for the news to travel to southwest Texas.

Ohio Juneteenth supporters are urging recognition for Juneteenth in congress. 2010 may be the year that Juneteenth will be circled on calendars throughout the country.

“Now that Juneteenth is a state holiday observance in Ohio, I and other Juneteenth supporters in the state will request that Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) co-sponsor legislation in the U.S. Senate to make Juneteenth a National Day of Observance, that will be introduced by lead sponsor Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL),” states Troy Page, Director of the Ohio Juneteenth Holiday Campaign.

“As more states like Ohio pass Juneteenth legislation, we hope that President Barack Obama will finally establish Juneteenth as a National Holiday Observance by issuing a Presidential Proclamation,” states Rev. Dr. Ronald V. Myers.

Thousands of petitions have been forwarded to the White House urging President Obama to make Juneteenth a National Day of Observance and to establish a Presidential National Juneteenth Commission.

“The official recognition of Juneteenth Independence Day and the end of enslavement by state governments and congress are very significant steps in bringing healing to America from the legacy of enslavement,” states Rev., Dr. Myers, also Chairman of the National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC) and the Founder and Director of the National Day of Reconciliation & Healing From the Legacy of Enslavement during the annual WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance.

For information on the National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign, the National Day of Reconciliation & Healing From the Legacy of Enslavement or the WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance, contact Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D. at 662-247-3364 or e-mail: JuneteenthDOC@yahoo.com or web sites: http://www.njclc.com, http://www.Juneteenth.us, http://www.NationalJuneteenth.com, and http://www.19thofJune.com.

For information on the Ohio Juneteenth Holiday Campaign contact Troy Page at 614-577-1489 or e-mail: tepage@aol.com.