Culture & Community | International Festival of Arts & Ideas | Juneteenth | Arts & Culture | New Haven Green | Arts & Anti-racism
Shayla Streater, Amayah Smith, Nevaé Brightly, Lilah Jackson and Santana Brightly. Abiba Biao Photos.
When SĀHGE Academy students Amayah Smith, Nevaé Brightly, Lilah Jackson and Santana Brightly stepped on stage, there was a certain weight they carried in their footsteps. As Beyconcé’s “Black Parade '' began to play, the girls turned their back to the crowd, raising their hands in the air.
Of life on fertile ground/ancestors put me on game, Beyoncé sang.
Ankh charm on gold chains/with my Oshun energy—
The beat dropped, and they descended into a squat before turning around striking a pose to the audience, radiating the energy of the Yourba goddess.
That was the scene last Saturday, as friends, families and hundreds of community members gathered for the 11th annual Juneteenth celebration and elder honoring ceremony on the New Haven Green. An initiative of the Official Juneteenth Coalition of Greater New Haven and the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, the event brought a festive, day-long celebration to the upper right corner of the Green, with fine and performing arts activities for all ages.
Dr. Hanan Hameen Diagne.
Dr. Hanan Hameen Diagne, president and co-founder of the Official Juneteenth Coalition of Greater New Haven, said that the coalition centered on a theme of unity to promote coming together across New Haven (read about previous celebrations here.).
“New Haven really needs unity right now,” Hameen Diagne, who also leads Artsucation Academy Network and has spearheaded arts learning in the city's public schools, said. “We need more collaboration. We need more sharing of resources. We need more of people supporting people.”
“If we want our youth to be united, if we want our youth to get along, if we want our youth to solve their conflicts and come together we have to show them what that looks like,” she added. “And we have to provide the spaces and opportunities for that to happen.”
That unity was palpable from the outset, with an opening prayer and libation, pop-up tents from family-friendly groups like S.P.O.R.T. Academy and Kidz Kook, arts performances and a “Juneteenth Village” that is now a trademark of the event. In a move to make the event accessible to all, the coalition did not charge people to vend at the event unless they were food businesses.
Dawn Taylor-Groom was just one of those artist-entrepreneurs, with striking handmade jewelry and apparel from her Black-owned small business, D.L.T.G. Groom Collection.
Taylor-Groom, who launched the business three years ago, explained that it started as an accident: she found that jewelry making eased her anxiety during the first years of the Covid-19 pandemic, as her husband went in and out of the hospital. It wasn’t long until her pile of bracelets grew into a collection. A push from her daughter convinced her to open up a store.
The magic behind the craft is the simplicity of the process, said Taylor-Groom. She puts things together as she sees fit.
“I just get some beads and colors together and whatever I see, I think that goes together. I just do it,” she said.
Her goal is to open her own brick-and-mortar storefront or rent out a vending location in another storefront. While she doesn’t have a specific location in mind, she’s seen new shops popping up on Dixwell and “would love to be in there.”
Top: Deasia Davis watching her cousin perform. Bottom: Philly-based college band Kidsnextdorm.
On stage, musical artists kept the crowd dancing. Bobbing her head, attendee Deasia Davis watched the stage proudly as her cousin, Taliah Jennette, took the mic for the first time.
Jeanette is a member of the nascent group kidsnextdorm, a Philly-based college band. As she listened, Davis said she was surprised—and delighted— with the turnout and amount of support from the crowd.
“I never been to one of these kind of events,” she said. “It’s mad people out here, but I love it though.” She added that she “loves being around people” and “would definitely come to this again. This is definitely cool.”
Of course, the group couldn’t leave the stage without getting everyone moving.
“If y’all up for doing a soul train let me hear you say ‘yerrr’” Namumba Santos said, jumping off the stage. Santos, better known by his stage name 13mumba, didn’t need a stage to command the crowd—he brought the joy right onto the Green itself.
That infectious energy spread alongside performers and spectators alike. The soul train line, which started off small, grew into a full on procession. Soon everyone was joining in on the fun, showing off their best dance moves as they made their way down the line of cheers and applause.
After the line dispersed, Davis made her way to congratulate Jennette, who beamed with excitement. The anxiety she had when she first went on stage suddenly disappeared, becoming almost unrecognizable with a newfound glow of confidence.
“I was honestly nervous because I haven't danced since high school, " Jennette said, “ so getting asked to do this opportunity was really fun.”
The feeling of growth was something she encouraged every artist to seek out while performing.
“Don’t be scared, girl, get up!” she said. “If you got the opportunity, do it. Don’t hold back cause it’s really fun and you get to see a lot of opportunities for a better future.”
For more about Saturday's celebration, click here.