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.

Schedule of Events:

Sunday, June 8, 2025

2:00 pm: Jefferson In Paris, A Film Discussion
 - Temple Israel - Portsmouth

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.

Facilitators:
Delia Konzett, Professor Of English And Cinema Studies, University Of New Hampshire
Courtney Marshall, Instructor In English, Phillips Exeter Academy
The Event Is Brought To You In Partnership With Temple Israel, Portsmouth, Nh.

Click Here To Register

June 10 - 11, 2025

Ona Marie Judge Staines: A Legacy Of Resistance
- School Tours - Portsmouth, Nh

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

Thursday, June 12, 2025

5:30 pm: Never Caught: The Defiant Journey Of Ona Marie Judge Staines
- Currier Museum Of Art -Manchester, Nh

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 Armstrong 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. The Room Capacity Is 180.

Register Here For In Person Attendance
Register Here For Virtual Attendance

Friday, June 13, 2025

1:00 pm: Unveiling Ceremony Of Headstone Honoring Dinah Chase Whipple
- North Cemetery - Portsmouth, Nh

Born Into Slavery Under Reverend Chase, Dinah Chase Whipple Became Known For Her Intelligence, Generosity, And Her Pioneering Efforts In Education-Founding The First School For Black Children In New Hampshire. On Her Twenty-First Birthday, She Was Granted Her Freedom And, On That Same Day, Married Prince Whipple-A Revolutionary War Veteran And One Of The Signers Of The 1779 Petition For Freedom.

At Her Enslaver's Request, Dinah Was Taught To Read And Write-An Uncommon Opportunity For The Enslaved. Her Literacy Proved Vital In Supporting Her Husband's Cause And Advancing The Fight For Freedom.

This Program Will Honor Dinah Chase Whipple-One Of The Most Respected And Influential Black Women Of Her Time. A Leader In The Early Abolitionist Movement, She Played A Significant Role In The Emancipation Of Many Enslaved People In New Hampshire. We Invite You To Join Us In Celebrating Her Legacy. This Program Will Feature Remarks From Members Of The City Of Portsmouth, The Portsmouth Community, And The Descendant Community.

The Event Is Brought To You In Partnership With The City Of Portsmouth And The Portsmouth Cemetery Committee.

6:00 pm: Erased Bloodlines: The Black Descendants Of The "Founding Fathers" And Those They Enslaved
- 3s Artspace- Portsmouth, Nh

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 Some Black Descendants Of America's Early Presidents 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.

Presenters:
- Shannon Lanier, Sally Hemmings Descendant, Television News Anchor And Host
- Brendan Narcia, Membership And Education, League Of Descendants Of The Enslaved At Mount Vernon
- Laurel Guild Yancey, Descendant Of Prince Whipple, Attorney
- Leontyne Clay Peck, Author, Historian, Film Creator And Educator

Moderator:
- Anthony Poore, Ceo, Center For Nh Justice and Equity
- This Event Is Brought To You In Partnership With 3s Artspace, Portsmouth, Nh.

Register Here For In Person Attendance
Register Here For Virtual Attendance

Saturday, June 14, 2025

12:30 pm: Restoring The Erased: Ai and Ar In Black History
- Portsmouth Public Library

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.

Presenters:
- K. Allison Wicken, Vice President, Education, George Washington's Mount Vernon
- John Robbins, Associate Director, User Experience Design At Digitas
- Brendan Narcia, Membership And Education, League Of Descendants Of The Enslaved At Mount Vernon
- Steven Cummings, Photographer And Documentarian
- Eric Channing Brewer, Photographer
- Moderator: Jerrianne Boggis, Executive Director, Black Heritage Trail Of Nh

Register Here For In Person Attendance
Register Here For Virtual Attendance

7:00 pm: Freedom Dinner: Still We Rise
- The Venue At Portwalk Place - Portsmouth, Nh

 A Juneteenth Celebration Of Black Resistance, Joy and Liberation

Blm New Hampshire And The Black Heritage Trail Of Nh Invite You To A Night Of Radical Remembrance, Communal Joy, And Unapologetic Black Liberation. This Juneteenth, We're Not Just Celebrating Freedom; We're Reclaiming Space, Honoring Ancestors Who Fought To Break Chains, And Gathering In The Spirit Of Resistance That Still Fuels Our Movement Today.

Join Us For An Evening Rooted In Legacy And Love - With Food, Live Performances, And The Stories They Tried To Erase. This Is More Than A Dinner; It's A Declaration That Black Lives, Black History, And Black Futures Are Sacred, And We Will Never Stop Fighting For Them.

Come Be Fed By The Culture, Fueled By The Struggle, And Fired Up For Freedom.

Cost: $45 Per Person

Sunday, June 15, 2025

4:00 pm: An Evening Of Gospel Music Featuring Howard University Gospel Choir
- Gospel Choir Concert - The Music Hall - Portsmouth

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: Reginald Golden
Assistant Choir Direction: Darrell Brown

Click Here To Buy Tickets

Thursday, June 19, 2025

9:30 Am: Juneteenth Freedom Walk
- Community Walk - Free

Celebrate Juneteenth Side-By-Side With Others Of Goodwill By Walking From Kittery, Maine, To The African Burying Ground In Portsmouth, New Hampshire!
Meet At John Paul Jones Memorial Park On The Kittery Side Of The Route 1 Memorial Bridge. Wakers Will Gather By 9:00 Am And Begin The 0.8-Mile Walk At 9:30 Am To The Burying Ground At 386 State Street, Portsmouth, Nh, Led By The Leftist Marching Band.

Parking For Those Participating In The Walk Is Available At Kittery Walk-In Care, 35 Walker Street, And Wheelchair-Accessible Parking Spots Across Hunter Ave By The Warren's Lobster Sign.

Bring A Sign! Bring A Tambourine. Help Celebrate African American Freedom!

This Walk Is Hosted By The Seacoast African American Cultural Center, Green Acre Baha'i  Center Of Learning, And Seacoast Naacp.

11:00 am: A Drumbeat For Spiritual Renewal
- African Drumming - African Burying Ground

Join us for a powerful and moving celebration marking the 10th anniversary of the African Burying Ground Memorial Park. This extraordinary public space honors the lives of enslaved Africans buried beneath the streets of Portsmouth.

This year's commemorative event weaves together ritual, remembrance, and resistance through the vibrant language of African drumming and dance, spoken word, and community connection. The day opens with a soul-stirring Call to Gather by the Akwaaba Ensemble, followed by a tribute to the ancestors led by Rev. Robert Thompson, Director Emeritus of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire.

The ceremony continues with a rededication of the Memorial by Assistant Mayor Joanna Kelley, and the unveiling of our new Sankofa Augmented Reality (AR) Outdoor Museum Experience-an immersive digital storytelling initiative that brings history to life through your smartphone.Assistant  Mayor Joanna Kelley rededicating the Memorial and unveiling

The celebration culminates in a Community Dance for Justice and Equity-"Boots on the Ground," an invitation for all to move together in rhythm, memory, and purpose. This is not just a ceremony but a call to presence, action, and collective healing.

Program Schedule:

11:00 am: Call to Gather: Akwaaba Ensemble
11:05 am: Welcome: JerriAnne Boggis
11:10 am: Honor to the Ancestors: Rev. Robert Thompson
11:15 am: Rededication of the Memorial: Assistant Mayor Joanna Kelley
11:25 am: Performance: Akwaaba Ensemble
12:00 pm: "Boots on the Ground" Community Dance
12:15 pm: Closing: JerriAnne Boggis

Date:
June 8 - 19, 2025

Location:
Various Venues in Portsmouth, NH

Click here for more information