Florida’s Emancipation Legacy – The Juneteenth Experience Kickoff Celebration

The Juneteenth Experience 2025 by Hued Songs commemorates Florida’s official Emancipation Day with a special celebration on Monday, May 20th. This event serves as the Miami-Dade kickoff for this year’s Juneteenth Experience, centered on the theme of non-erasure and the celebration of Black Miami-Dade history.

The evening opens with a reception featuring wine, light bites, and creative place making activities designed to connect participants with local history. These interactive experiences include community and family portraits with artist Symone Major, a symbolic “Sowing Seeds of History” planting activity, and collective poetry making facilitated by Yadira Capaz. From 7:00 – 8:30 PM, the program features a panel discussion titled “Truth Spoken, Freedom Performed: Florida’s Emancipation Legacy” moderated by creative producer Arsimmer McCoy. The panel includes Coconut Grove resident & historian Carol Henley, DJ and culture keeper Charles Farquaharson (known as Pac Jam 305), and Kamilah Pritchett Executive Director of The Black Archives.

Their conversation will explore Miami-Dade’s rich Black history through personal narratives, cultural preservation, and community resilience. Performances by The Juneteenth Experience cast will complement and enhance the discussion themes throughout the evening. This celebration on Florida’s official Emancipation Day – commemorating May 20th, 1865, when enslaved people in Florida finally learned of their freedom – initiates a month of community workshops, performances, and activations across Miami-Dade County, all leading up to the signature Juneteenth Experience performances in June.