Florida's Emancipation Legacy: Honoring Black Miami
May 20, 2025
From: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
An evening of reflection, conversation and artistic expression marks the start of a month-long tribute to Black history and cultural legacy in Miami-Dade.
On Tuesday, May 20, Florida's Emancipation Legacy: Honoring Black Miami takes place at Green Space Miami as the official kickoff for The Juneteenth Experience 2025. Held on Florida’s Emancipation Day—commemorating May 20, 1865, when news of freedom finally reached the state’s enslaved population—the event brings together community voices, performers and cultural leaders to honor Black Miami’s past and present.
The evening begins with a welcome reception featuring wine, light bites by Reflections Catering and interactive activities including collaborative poetry making, symbolic planting, and family portrait sessions with artist Symone Major. At 7:00 p.m., a panel discussion titled Miami-Dade's Black Heritage: Rooting and Rising will explore local history and resilience. Moderated by writer and creative producer Arsimmer McCoy, the panel features cultural advocate Charles Farquaharson (Pac Jam 305), historian and longtime Coconut Grove resident Carol Henley and Kamila E. Pritchett, Executive Director of The Black Archives.
Presented by Hued Songs Inc., the evening also includes performances that tie into the event’s central theme of non-erasure and celebration of Black heritage. This gathering sets the stage for a series of public programs and performances leading up to the broader Juneteenth commemorations in June.