Juneteeth Celebrations In Houston

Juneteenth celebrations are all about reminding people that on June 19, 1865 slaves in Texas were finally released. On Jan. 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect, abolishing slavery for approximately 4 million African Americans. It wasn't until 1865 that Gen. Grainger and his troops arrived in Texas and read the announcement in Galveston that Texas planters released their slaves.

It's more than just an African American holiday. It's part of the fabric of Americana and everyone can join in celebrating this truly liberating moment in history. It's traditional to hold big Texas bar-b-cues, concerts and festivals.

Here's more information about this historic day.

Listen to former slaves talk about emancipation.

History of Juneteeth in Texas

Houston Events

Here's some of the things that are taking place in Houston, where several organizations have continued to champion this moment in history and sponsor activities that celebrate this Texas Holiday.


Emancipation Park



A Gulf Coast Juneteenth

Each year the Gulf Coast Juneteenth celebrates the music that is part of this region, and born of the ?incredible rich legacy of African-American culture. It showcases Blues, Gospel and Jazz.

Juneteenth at Miller Outdoor Theatre is one of the best free blues festivals in the world and one of the Houston's marquee events.

Juneteenth Gospel Celebration

The Juneteenth Gospel showcase features the African American gospel music heard in churches in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi and the rest of the Gulf Coast region, with performances by artist from all around the region.

These festivals are some the hottest events in the Bayou City that firmly stake Houston's claim as a top notch Gulf Coast city.

Here's a look at the the current artist and show times for this year's event celebrating Juneteenth at Miller's Outdoor Theater.

Texas Holiday

Juneteenth celebration was declared an official State holiday in Texas after former Texas Representative Al Edwards fought a hard won political battle and on June 1, 1980, 115 years after Texas slaves were freed, Juneteenth was officially recognized.

Here some of the places on the web where you can get more information about Juneteenth and the Emancipation Proclamation, two remarkable historic events.

		Houston Networking To energize your career and attract more business view the top business and professional networking events in Houston.			Houston Attractions Get discounts tickets for your family or group on the exhibits and events at many of the fun places to visit in Houston.
		Midtown Houston Apts Find deals on move in specials, rebates and pricing on renting apts and lofts in Midtown and other great places in Houston.			Festivals In Houston Here is a list of the many family friendly, exciting nieghborhood and city-wide festivals that you should know about.
		Museums in Houston Located near Midtown Houston in the Museum District, there is plenty of things to see and do at any of the great museums in town.			Houston African American There are lots of events in Houston where you can experience its rich African American cultural heritage here's a look at a few of them.

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What To Do In Houston This Weekend

Takasha Francis

Jecaryous Johnson

Ravey Wesley

Folks wondering what to do this weekend in Houston, should really consider hanging out at the Black Book festival in Houston. It's an exciting annual events where African Americans in Houston get a chance to mingle with literary talent from around the nation.

It's filled with exciting things to do for adults and children. It's a rare chance for you to get face time with your favorite author and/or the premier Black writers. The weekend event only lasts until Sunday.

Where
May 21-23, 2010,
Crowne Plaza Hotel - 1700 Smith Street-Downtown Houston

Take a look at some of the things you can do at the Black book festival in Houston.

Friday, May 21, 2010...10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Private Slumber Party
w/Authors Beverly Jenkins and Brenda Jackson
(Ladies only - Ages 18 and up)


Sunday, May 23, 2010 @ 9:00 a.m.
Prayer Breakfast
Breakfast Speaker:Cheryl Lacey Donovan


Sunday, May 23, 2010 @ 4:00 p.m.
Spoken Word Poetry Slam
Poet and Host: Takasha Francis


The Black book festival is more than just a place for writers and publishers to hob nob. Their events are geared for book lovers of all ages and any professionals who would like to do some networking this weekend can get in on these cool activities.

• Book signing and discussion sessions with featured authors
• Workshops
• Seminars
• Spoken word poetry slam
• Book club give-aways

The tickets are moderately priced so everyone can come out and roam through the tons of exhibits. You can even bring your tweens and teens along to participate in these kid-friendly events.

10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Children's Reading Room
Children's authors will read books to children and provide other entertaining activities

Etiquette for Teens
Director-Gloria Franklin
CEO, Ray of Hope Publishing

Take a peak at some of the publishers, authors and promoters participating during the festival in Houston.

Author Collective
Favor Two U Publishing
Lucy Rose Publishing
Revolutionary Disciples Media

Carl Weber
Author of 10+ novels, including
Up To No Good and Big Girls Do Cry

Ravey D. Wesley
Policy: One Man’s Legacy
A novel about a man born
in the early 1900s, who dreams
of creating financial wealth for future generations,
mission to learn the secrets of finance and wealth.


J. M. Benjamin
Publisher and author of 5+ urban fiction novels,
including Down in the Dirty, Ride or Die Chick and Menace

Writers, literary professionals or if you're interested in trying to publish a book, these weekend events can help you in your career or get a want-to-be writer off on a good start.

Bringing Out the Book In You
Presenter: Cydney Rax
Author, Brothers and Wives and
My Daughter's Boyfriend

Love and Adventure in the Middle East
Presenter: Luther Burch
Author, Black American in the Desert Kingdom

Marketing Your Book On a Limited Budget
Moderator
Oswald Scott, Author and Attorney
Panelists
Troy Johnson, Founder, AALBC.com
Dana Pittman, Nia Promotions

Faith Without Fear: Finding Purpose In Your Pain
Presenter: Renee Jean
Author, Verse in Motion: Moving God's Word in Your Life Personally and Eternally


The Black book festival in Houston is not just for people in the industry. It has seminars luncheons and workshops scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday that anyone can attend.

You'll benefit from attending this festival, whether you come with a group, family or solo. It'll be a weekend full of intresting events and topics of discussion with an array of talented professionals to connect with.

Books

Art/Theater

Attractions

Parks

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Things To Do In Houston This Weekend: National Black Book Festival

One of the largest Black events in Houston and the Southwest, starts this weekend May 21-23. The National Black Book Festival (NBBF 2010) will showcase some of America's most talented and distinguished Black authors.

If you want to meet and greet the who's who of black literature? This is the place to be. It's the one Houston event every aspiring writer should go to, at least once. The event draws lots of publishers, writers, and everyday people from around the globe to the Space City.

Things To Do At The National Black Book Festival

If you've been hunting for African American events in Houston with exciting things to do, then you definitely don't want to miss this event. It's an excellent opportunity for you to get some face time with some of the premier Black writers and publishers.

Authors and publishers are grouped according genre, with 17 genres being represented at the festival.

Here's a quick glance of some of the things happening at the Houston festival.

Book signing and discussion sessions with featured authors
Workshops
Seminars
Spoken word poetry slam
Book club give-aways


Some of the Black Book Festival events are already sold out.

It's too late to get tickets if you wanted to get in on the "For Ladies Only Slumber Party" hosted by Black authors Beverly Jenkins and Brenda Jackson.

You can still be a part of the action at these affairs this weekend:

Welcome to Houston Reception,
"Get Acquainted" Breakfast,
Prayer Breakfast
Poetry Slam

You better get tickets online to the events now!

Poetry Slam At NBBF 2010

There will be a heads up poetry slam competition at this year's NBBF. One of H-town's own poet and motivational speakers, the dynamic Takasha Francis, will MC the slam so you can bet your bottom dollar it'll be a def slam.

Yes, she's the same Ms. Francis (thevoicecommunications.com) who's a member of the Houston Black Lawyers Association (Executive Board Member, 2004-2006), and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

The slam is a competition where spoken word poets will let it flow, for a cash prize. There will be 2 to 3 preliminary bouts. You can get tickets online to the finale scheduled for the last day of the Houston Book festival, May 23rd.

What's Happening At The National Black Book Festival

Top book industry experts will hold an all-day event, to share with Houston festival goers, some of their "how-to" tips and strategies. It's your ideal chance to learn from the pros, how to make your literary breakthrough.

Some of the book industry experts appearing at the conference include:

Book Agents
Book Publishers
Book Promoters


These are just a handful of the enriching, entertaining and exciting thing to do during the NBBF-2010, an annual Black event in Houston.

Cushcity.com, the world's largest African-American retailer online, and host of the NBBF-2010, have made it possible for the general public to participate in this fabulous Houston festival. They have set a reasonable fee of $5.00 per day for adults and teens and are admitting kids under 12 years old free with a parent. Here's where you can get tickets online to the NBBF-2010 events.

Books

Art/Theater

Attractions

Parks

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Black History Celebrations in Houston

Black History Month in Houston has a lot of activities that for everyone that wants to learn, celebrate and participate in African American heritage events. Take a look at this sampling of just a few of the things that are on tap.

African American Heritage Month Film Festival
Central Library Wednesday, February 17 | 10 AM – 8 PM
Join them for a day of films that celebrate the African American heritage of Texas. For more information, please call 832-393-1313.


Alafia Gaidi, lead percussionist and singer for the award-winning group D.R.U.M. incorporates imaginative stories and games using African drums and other traditional percussion instruments of Africa.
Bracewell Neighborhood Library | Tuesday, February 2 | 11:30 AM
Walter Neighborhood Library | Tuesday, February 2 |4 PM
HPL Express Southwest | Friday, February 5 | 9 AM
Carnegie Neighborhood Library | Monday, February 15 | 3:30 PM
Flores Neighborhood Library | Wednesday, February 24 | 4 PM
The African American Library at the Gregory School Saturday, February 27 | 3 PM

Handle Yo Buznez
Charlie Berry shares familiar songs and several of her original tunes which promote positive values and belief in oneself.
Smith Neighborhood Library | Friday, February 3 | 4:30 PM

A versatile musician, Rickey Ford offers an exciting one-man show sharing his expertise in saxophone, flute, piano, clarinet, piano, oboe, and vocals playing everything from classical to rock, to reggae, to funk, the blues, gospel, jazz, alternative, rock, zydeco/Cajun, Latin jazz, country and R&B.

Zydeco & Blues
JABO, the man called the “Texas Prince of Zydeco”, creates musical magic with his accordion and offers samples of “ZydeBlues” – a mixture of zydeco and blues music.

Moody Neighborhood Library | Wednesday, February 17 | 3 PM
Central Library | Saturday, February 20| 12 PM

Martin Luther King Revisited
The dynamic speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. are revisited by C. Anthony Jackson. He takes you on an exciting journey back to the life and times of the courageous African American leader.
Central Library | Saturday, February 6 | 2 PM

As “The Griot”, Kijana takes you on a time trip to the dawn of time – portraying an African maiden whose job it is to teach them to sing and dance with her the music of a South African Xhosa “click” song for a wedding they will all be attending. She then takes them to America, singing gospel then closing with the music of 20th century jazz ladies.

Robinson-Westchase Neighborhood Library |Wednesday, February 10 |10 AM
African American Library at the Gregory School |Saturday, March 13 | 3 PM

Terry Parker mesmerizes audiences with his silky smooth renditions of the music of the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, including some of the world greatest legends: Nat King Cole, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, Little Anthony, The Platters and Smokie Robinson.

Henington-Alief Regional |Monday, February 22 | 3 PM

Steel Drum Magic
Shinar is the only known performer that simultaneously sings and accompanies himself on steel drums using six mallets. An avant-garde musical and portrait artist, he weaves a tale of beautiful music and eye-popping magic for young and the young at heart.

Central Library |Saturday, February 13 | 2 PM

Collier Regional Library | Saturday, February 13 | 4 PM
Lakewood Neighborhood Library |Monday, February 15 | 6:30 PM

Swingout & 2-Step
Experience the rediscovered art of American dance with these two avid performers and instructors.

Young Neighborhood Library|Saturday, February 13 | 4:30 PM

The Music of Ella & Sarah
This finalist for “Showtime at the Apollo” and NBC’s “Gimme the Mic” shares a program honoring Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn. Cassandra honors these ladies of jazz while telling the stories of their rise to stardom.

Collier Regional Library |Saturday, March 6 | 2 PM

You can attend some of the Black History month films and musical performances that personify the African American experience during the African American Heritage Month Film Festival in February.

Plan to attend the musical performances by local Zydeco, Jazz and Soul artist are this month, you'll be delighted that you did. I'll keep you posted for other Houston Texas events in February.

Books

Art/Theater

Attractions

Parks

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