BHTNH 2025 Juneteenth Celebration

A Reckoning: Reclaiming the Past, Remembering Black Voices, Reshaping the Future

June 8, 10-15, & 19

The celebration includes a movie screening and discussion, history tours, a gospel choir concert, a panel discussion, and celebrations, including a freedom dinner and an African drumming ceremony.

In challenging times, it can be difficult to have productive conversations about the past and its significance for the future. This is especially true when historical facts about America’s past, such as those about our early presidents, do not reconcile with the sanitized versions we are taught.

American history often portrays the “Founding Fathers” as paragons of virtue while omitting the realities of slavery, exploitation, racial inequality, and profiteering woven into the nation's foundation. When historical figures held in high regard are revealed to have enslaved and fathered Black children, it forces a deeper reckoning with how racism shaped American institutions. It makes slavery and its legacy personal rather than abstract.

This Juneteenth, we weave together three powerful narratives—stories that disrupt the illusion of separate racial histories and identities in America. Through the voices of descendants, cutting-edge technology, and Ona Marie Judge Staines's courageous journey, we underscore that Black and white histories have always been intertwined, making it harder to uphold a rigid "us vs. them" mindset.

Knowing these truths forces us to confront the gap between America’s ideals and history. This Juneteenth, we reclaim, we remember, and we resist erasure.

What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth is the oldest known nationally celebrated event commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation declared that as of January 1, 1863, all slaves of the states in rebellion against the Union “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” However, it was not until June 19th, 1865, two years later, when the U.S. Army took possession of Galveston Island in Texas and began a campaign against the defenders of slavery, that the enslaved people in Galveston could begin their journey towards freedom.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Sunday, June 8 | 2:00 PM | Temple Israel | Portsmouth

JEFFERSON IN PARIS, A FILM DISCUSSION

Join us for a facilitated discussion of the film Jefferson in Paris. We will show snippets of the film during the discussion. If you would like to watch the full film before the discussion, it is available on Netflix, AppleTV, Amazon Prime Video, or Google Play Movie for a small fee.

Jefferson in Paris (1995) is a historical drama directed by James Ivory, starring Nick Nolte as Thomas Jefferson. The film highlights Jefferson’s time as the U.S. Ambassador to France in the late 1780s, capturing his interactions with European aristocrats, his political ideals, and his controversial relationship with Sally Hemings (Thandiwe Newton), an enslaved teenage girl.

The discussion will explore how the movie upholds a familiar white historical narrative—one that acknowledges contradictions but ultimately prioritizes the comfort of its protagonist and audience over a true reckoning with race, power, and enslavement.

Facilitator: Delia Konzett, Professor of English and Cinema Studies, University of New Hampshire

The event is brought to you in partnership with Temple Israel, Portsmouth, NH.

Tuesday and Wednesday, June 10-11 | School Tours | Portsmouth, NH

ONA MARIE JUDGE STAINES: A LEGACY OF RESISTANCE

Step back in time and walk in the footsteps of Ona Judge, an enslaved woman who courageously escaped from the household of George and Martha Washington to seek her freedom in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. This guided tour will bring to life Ona’s remarkable story—her daring flight from servitude, her determination to live free despite relentless pursuit, and the community that supported her in the face of overwhelming odds.

As you explore the historic streets of Portsmouth, you will stand at the waterfront where Ona first arrived, seeking refuge in this northern port city. You’ll visit the homes and properties of some of America’s most prominent families—such as the Langdons, Warners, and Lears—who were deeply intertwined with the history of both slavery and abolition. Through their stories, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the complex social and political landscape that shaped Ona’s journey and the lives of countless other African Americans in early New England.

This immersive experience offers a powerful and thought-provoking look at one woman’s quest for freedom, the struggles she faced, and the enduring legacy of her resistance. Join us to uncover the hidden history of Portsmouth and honor the resilience of those who fought for liberty.

Tour Guides: Dariya Steele and Saniyah Bolton

To book your tour, contact Dariya Steele, Program Assistant at dariya@blackheritagertrail.org.

Thursday, June 12 | 5:30 PM | Currier Museum of Art |Manchester, NH

NEVER CAUGHT: THE DEFIANT JOURNEY OF ONA MARIE JUDGE STAINES

Born into slavery at Mount Vernon, Ona Marie Judge Staines refused to be a mere footnote in Washington’s history. She seized her freedom, escaping to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, only to live the rest of her life pursued by the most powerful man in America. Ona’s courageous act of self-liberation speaks to the larger American story of enslavement, the relentless quest for freedom, and the systemic forces that sought to maintain racial oppression.

New Hampshire actress Sandi Clark Kaddy will bring Ona’s voice to life through a dramatic reading of her 1845 interview, originally published in The Granite Freeman (Concord, NH). The discussion will continue with Never Caught author Erica Dunbar, offering deeper insight into Ona’s story and its lasting significance in American history.

There will be both adult and young adult versions of Dr Dunbar's book for purchase before and after the event.

The event is brought to you in partnership with the Currier Museum of Art. Manchester, NH

Friday, June 13 | 6:00 PM | 3S Artspace| Portsmouth, NH

ERASED BLOODLINES: THE BLACK DESCENDANTS OF THE “FOUNDING FATHERS” AND THOSE THEY ENSLAVED

History is often told in fragments, leaving out the voices that disrupt America's founding myth. This Juneteenth, we invite you to join a groundbreaking conversation that brings together Black descendants of Presidents Jefferson, Madison, and Washington alongside a descendant of the enslaved from New Hampshire’s Moffatt-Ladd House.

Acknowledging these connections and the resilience of Black families who have refused to allow their histories to be erased forces us to reconsider the roles that Black people played—not just as enslaved laborers but as fundamental architects of the nation. Their stories challenge the myths we tell about our founding fathers and deepen our understanding of freedom, democracy, and resilience.

This vital conversation reclaims history, reshapes perspectives, and reaffirms the power of truth.

This event is brought to you in partnership with 3S Artspace, Portsmouth, NH.

Saturday, June 14 |12:30 PM | Portsmouth Public Library

RESTORING THE ERASED: AI & AR IN BLACK HISTORY

This groundbreaking program explores how artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) are reshaping the way we engage with Black history. Through innovative digital storytelling, we restore lost narratives and make history more accessible to all—especially younger generations.

This program highlights two significant projects: the Mount Vernon Portrait Project and the BHTNH Sankofa AR Project. Utilizing AI technology, Mont Vernon creates lifelike portraits of the men and women enslaved by George Washington. As no images of these individuals exist, this project serves as a powerful visual reclamation, restoring identity and dignity to those erased from history.

With technology as a bridge, the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire brings to life the story of the recovery of the Portsmouth African Burying Ground, how this project challenges erasure, and fosters a more inclusive understanding of New Hampshire’s past.

Seeing a face, hearing a voice, and experiencing a story in a new way makes history feel immediate, tangible, and deeply personal.

The event is brought to you in partnership with the Portsmouth Public Library, Portsmouth, NH.

Saturday, June 14 | 6:00 PM | Location to Be Confirmed | Portsmouth, NH

FREEDOM DINNER: HOSTED BY BLMNH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BHTNH

Black Lives Matter New Hampshire is honored to host a Freedom Dinner in celebration of Juneteenth. They will celebrate the extraordinary resilience and redemption of two remarkable individuals—Ona Judge and Hercules Posey—who risked everything to claim their freedom from George Washington’s household. Through food, storytelling, and reflection, we will illuminate the intertwined legacies of these two figures, who defied the most powerful man in America in pursuit of liberation.

Together, we will celebrate the spirit of freedom, courage, and perseverance these individuals embody, connecting their fight for self-liberation to the ongoing pursuit of justice today.

More information to come

Sunday, June 15 | Gospel Choir Concert | The Music Hall | Portsmouth

AN EVENING OF GOSPEL MUSIC FEATURING HOWARD UNIVERSITY GOSPEL CHOIR

Gospel music has long been a powerful tool for African American resilience, serving as a source of strength, community, and spiritual upliftment. Rooted in the African American experience, particularly in the era of enslavement and segregation, gospel music has been a means of both survival and resistance. It has allowed African Americans to express their pain, hope, and faith while fostering solidarity and collective action.

Returning to Portsmouth, the Howard Gospel Choir, a group of students, alumni, and community members from Howard University, will lift our spirits as we celebrate, heal, and empower our communities. As the world’s first college choir, the Howard Gospel Choir is a trailblazer for gospel music ministries on collegiate campuses worldwide.

Choir Director: Ray Bramble

The event is brought to you in partnership with the Music Hall, Portsmouth.

Thursday, June 19 | 11:00 AM | African Drumming | African Burying Ground

A DRUMBEAT FOR SPIRITUAL RENEWAL

African drumming has long been a cornerstone of cultural resilience, serving as a powerful medium for expression, communication, and unity. Deeply embedded in African traditions, drumming is more than music; it is a language that conveys stories, emotions, and messages across generations.

This commemorative event, celebrating the tenth anniversary of the unveiling of the Portsmouth African Burying Ground, pays homage to the ancestors. The healing beat of the drums provided by Akwaaba Ensemble, an African drumming and dance group, and a ceremony by Rev. Robert Thompson, Director Emeritus of BHTNH’s Board, will honor the ancestors, preserve identity, maintain a sense of belonging, and affirm cultural pride. This event is free and open to the public.

This event is free and open to the public.

Juneteenth Celebration 2025