On Monday, Juneteenth was celebrated with song, poetry and dance at the Sky Stage.
Collaborating with the Frederick Arts Council, OUT40 hosted its annual show featuring poets SlowMo, Lanai Monroe, Dee the Librarian and J-Fuze, a dual rapper/poet who performed both mediums.
16-year old Zariah performed a dance piece celebrating black queer liberation and life. Rappers Reign Cannon and Richeleiu performed their catalogues; Reign is a Christian-based artist while Richeleiu is a Liberian rapper based in Baltimore, Maryland. Liberia, Africa’s oldest independent republic, was founded by freed slaves repatriated to West Africa from the United States in 1822.
Closing the celebration was actor Evan Carrington who brought along singer Angela Faith to deliver a powerful medley of gospel hymns, a prelude in preparation for a monologue. He performed a Martin Luther King speech from “His Own Eulogy.” Although based in Baltimore, Carrington has performed in several local productions including most recently, the Maryland Ensemble Theatre’s (MET) South & Saints.
I’d like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to give his life serving others. I’d like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to love somebody.
I want you to say that day that I tried to be right on the war question. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe the naked. I want you to say on that day that I did try in my life to visit those who were in prison. And I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity. – Martin Luther King, Jr., His Own Eulogy, 1968
In attendance were County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, along with members from the ACLU, MET, and TAP, Transformative Arts Project and their respective families.