Archive for the Blog Posts Category

The History of Juneteenth in Washington, DC

Juneteenth, a day commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, is now a cherished celebration of Black history and freedom. In the matter of slavery in Washington, DC, the District was central to the domestic slave trade in the early 19th century but successfully banned the ownership and sale of slaves on April 16, 1862. From then on it celebrated Emancipation Day each year and since 2021, officially recognizes Juneteenth as a second day to honor the resilience of the Black community.

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Why Do We Celebrate Juneteenth?

Juneteenth is a significant holiday celebrated in the United States on June 19th each year. It commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and the end of slavery in the United States. With its roots in Texas, where news of the Emancipation Proclamation finally reached enslaved people in 1865, Juneteenth has evolved into a nationwide celebration of freedom and African American heritage.

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Wade in the Water

They came, they saw, and they sang! The Washington Revels Jubilee Voices/Mercer University presentation, “Wade in the Water,” an exploration of Gullah-Geechee culture and life in St Simons Island, Georgia, was a great success. The event had an enthusiastic, singing audience that filled a 250-seat venue; songs

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Hitting the Road: Exploring Georgia Sea Islands Culture Through Music and Oral History

As Jubilee Voices celebrates its 13th year, the group will be taking a special road trip to St. Simons Island, Georgia, to perform a program blending digital stories, music, and education about the island’s Gullah-Geechee community. The program is part of the Coastal Georgia Research Initiative, a ten-year partnership between Mercer University’s College of Professional Advancement and the St. Simons African American Heritage Coalition.

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Robert Burns Day

Scotland’s national “bard” was born on January 25, 1759, and all around the world “Burns suppers” – complete with bagpipes, a special Scottish dish called “haggis,” poetry and song – will be held in his honor. This great poet, collector of folk song in his beloved Scotland,

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Introducing Tamara C. Williams!

Washington Revels is delighted to announce our new Executive Director, Tamara C. Williams! Tamara comes to Washington Revels with a wealth of executive leadership and musical experience. She was the founder and Executive Director of Music Beyond Measure, an arts organization that, like Revels, relies heavily on

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A Fond Farewell

A post by Ross Wixon, Administrating Director
I have been honored that Washington Revels trusted me to help lead our organization over the past year and four months, and to have been closely involved with the important initiatives and exciting developments above. These examples are representative of the many ways in which I’ve learned from our warm and caring community in my almost five years and many roles here.

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