Juneteenth Alive - June 20th on Belle Isle

Press release:
Khary WAE Frazier & General Population will headline Juneteenth Alive on Saturday, June 20th, 2009 beginning at 10a.m. at the Music Shell (located between the swan boat rental and the conservatory on the island).

Juneteenth Alive is the collaboration of the Michigan NAACP, YARD & Detroit City Councilwoman JoAnn Watson, and General Population. Juneteenth Alive will be held on Detroit’s historic park Belle Isle and will be a mix of information, entertainment and education. The program will serve to recognize and honor the past while connecting to the challenges of today and pulling from the strength of the African ancestry.

“This is my second Juneteenth effort that will bridge the gap of my people,” says WAE. “We will always be a part of programs that help people, especially young people, understand their past so that they may understand their present day reality.”

The Michigan NAACP will be holding a walk in support of Sickle-Cell Anemia Awareness and Treatment. “Sickle Cell has a huge impact throughout the Black community and we want to raise awareness of what it is, and how it affects our community,” Yvonne White President of the Michigan NAACP.

Juneteenth refers to June 19, 1865 the day that Union General Gordon Grainger arrived in Galveston, Texas to give the news that the war was over and that all slaves were now free. Juneteenth is recognized by many African Americas as the official commemoration of the abolition of slavery.

Featured Performers and Speakers Include:

Rev. David Bullock of Greater St. Matthew Baptist Church, Jessica Care Moore - Def Poetry Jam Poet; Yusef Shakur, author and owner of the Urban Network Bookstore; Stryfe, Detroit hip-hop artist; Rev. Jim Holley of Little Rock Baptist Church; The Intellectual Divas, spoken-soul artists; Rev. Carter Grimmett of People’s United Methodist Church; Donnell White of the Detroit NAACP; Karinda Washington of the Booker T Washington Business Association, and many, many more.

BIG UP to Khary 'Wae' Frazier for putting this monumental event together to enrich the culture of Detroit music. Khary was featured on Minced Meat last April 27th, where he performed live with Nick Speed. Khary also had Congressman John Conyers call in to talk about how we can move hip hop forward through leadership (Khary's idea), and he also performed last Saturday night as part of Championship Style and The National Microphone Association's !Forbidden Texts! Tour. Yep, BIG up!!