What? Lift Us Up: A Juneteenth Celebration

When? Saturday June 14, 2025 1-2:30PM

Where? Abolition Row Park, 22 7^th St., New Bedford, MA

What? Throughout history, Black people have used art to affirm their humanity and speak out against injustice. In this afternoon of poetic prose and symphonic sounds, you will experience Abolition Row Park come alive with the poetry and music of contemporary Black creatives Iva Brito, Maia Livramento, Gabriel Johnson, and Hendrick Hernandez- Resto in collaboration with musicians from New Bedford Symphony Orchestra and Malian master drummer Sidy Maiga.

This performance is part of a long tradition of Juneteenth celebrations that became federal law as a national holiday in 2021. Juneteenth marks Major General Gordon Granger’s arrival in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation of 1865, making the abolition of slavery a reality across the United States. This occurred two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation legally abolishing slavery in the United States of America. Juneteenth is a stark reminder that, as Frederick Douglass reminds us “power concedes nothing without a demand.” Our words must be matched by our deeds.  

Through a unique arrangement of original works and homages to literary and entertainment legends, this program will honor New Bedford’s abolitionist past, bring attention to present struggles for liberation, and express hope for a future free from oppression. Prepare for an interactive experience of community, culture, and history that will feature an original poem inspired by the people, places, and events community members chose to honor at our first Lift Us Up performance in October. This program is free and open to the public!

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Note: Some accessible seating will be provided, but we encourage you to bring a lawn chair or a blanket if you are able to.  

Presented by Zeiterion Performing Arts Center, New Bedford Historical Society, and New Bedford Symphony Orchestra

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FEATURING