Friday, June 17
Racial Justice Town Hall Part XXII: Two Years Later… Where Are We? This in-person and virtual panel hosted by the Beck Cultural Exchange Center comes two years after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, sparked public protests and discussion surrounding racial injustice. The Beck Center is continuing those discussions with a panel featuring local civil rights activist Theotis Robinson, Rev. John Butler of the Knoxville NAACP, Knoxville Community Safety Director LaKenya Middlebrook and Knoxville Utility Board’s diversity analyst Tanisha Fitzgerald-Baker.
When: 4 p.m. Friday Where: 1927 Dandridge Ave. Join virtually: youtu.be/DVPWv16YbtI
Saturday, June 18
Juneteenth Exhibition Tribute. The Beck Center will unveil a musical art exhibit that pays tribute to the history of Juneteenth. Artists Ty Murray and Daniel Craft will unveil a Juneteenth piano that will be placed in the center of the Beck Center’s lawn. The piano will be installed as part of Knoxville’s Piano Project, which places decorated pianos across the city for anyone to play. The Beck Center also will display white roses at its permanent outdoor exhibit “Emancipation” to honor those formally enslaved in Texas. When: 10 a.m. Saturday Where: 1927 Dandridge Ave. Learn more: beckcenter.net/juneteenth#JExhibit
Stories of Emancipation at Mabry-Hazen House. The Mabry-Hazen House, featuring generations of family artifacts and heirlooms, will share emancipation stories about local enslaved communities. Visitors will explore how enslaved people connected to the Mabry-Hazen House gained their freedom and fought to dismantle American chattel slavery. Three tours will take place 10:30 a.m., noon and 1:30 p.m. Admission is free, reservations are encouraged and donations are appreciated. When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Where: 1711 Dandridge Ave. Reserve a spot: mabryhazen.com/events/juneteenth
Empowerment Day. The Knoxville Area Urban League is introducing the community to its various services during the Juneteenth weekend. The event will feature an expungement clinic, voter registration services, child support counseling, driver’s license reinstatement information, music from 99.7 FM WJBE and a local food truck. When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Where: 1514 East Fifth Ave. Register for the expungement clinic: info@thekaul.org
Sunday, June 19
Green McAdoo Juneteenth Celebration. Join the Green McAdoo Cultural Center in celebrating Juneteenth at its second annual festival. This year, the center will host a hair show, cake walk, bingo and live music from 3:30 p.m. to sunset. Kids also will be able to make tie-dye shirts for Father’s Day. Food trucks include Deep South Fish Shack, Chick-n-Sack and Kona Ice. When: 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Where: 101 School St. in Clinton, Tennessee Learn more: greenmcadooculturalcenter.org/event/juneteenth2022
Juneteenth Father’s Day Dinner. Celebrate Juneteenth and Father’s Day during a Juneteenth Father’s Freedom Dinner hosted by the Beck Center. The event will feature live music by Jazzspirations with Brian Clay and will be catered by Chris Baylock of Heart & Soul Catering. Tickets are $35 per person. When: 4 p.m. Where: 1927 Dandridge Ave. Buy tickets: beckcenter.net/juneteenth#JFathers
