Freedom is forever! Commemorate the 5th of July and our victory in the struggle for self-determination and liberation.

In 1827, Black New Yorkers began to observe the 5th of July as a way to safely celebrate their recent emancipation while quietly critiquing America’s Independence Day. This celebration is annually acknowledged at Weeksville Heritage Center and became the namesake of our 5th of July Resource Center for Self-Determination & Freedom. 

This year’s program, Grasping Things At The Route, brings artists Akeema-Zane and Rena Anakwe back to Weeksville to honor this history with a screening of Sonic Escape Routes. Created in 2020 for The Legacy Project’s Sensing History virtual experience, this collaborative sound performance explores questions such as: “What is the spiritual core and where is the liminal space for a people whose freedom to thrive remains in question?” and “What are the varying routes that anchor us toward flight or resistance?” Sonic Escape Routes weaves personal narratives and histories into the Weeksville archives in order to address these questions and other fundamental issues.

An intergenerational conversation with the artists, moderated by 10th grade Ember Charter School student Kalia Bain, will immediately follow. This event is curated by Joyce LeeAnn Joseph.

THIS IS A VIRTUAL EVENT, OPEN TO ALL

RSVP Here [direct link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/5th-of-july-grasping-things-at-the-route-tickets-161019059341 ]