BUFFALO, N.Y. — Festivities honoring Juneteenth will continue well after Western New York celebrates the holiday.
A central part of the annual Juneteenth celebration is ‘Sankofa Days,’ a series of events hosted throughout the month of June.
Sankofa is a Swahili term referring to the present-day use and role of ancestral wisdom. The nationally recognized days are meant to be ones of reflection and reconciliation that emphasize the wisdom of those who came before us.
“Sankofa means it’s not wrong to go back, look at history, and then face the future with what you know,” Juneteenth organizer Ras Jomo said. “And sometimes we have to reexamine things to see if we can get it right. I think that is what is making our Juneteenth so big and so celebrated. Everyone is relooking and repositioning, saying what leverage do we have now to make things better?”
Buffalo Sankofa celebrations began June 3 and will continue through June 28 at individual venues. If you’re interested in immersing yourself in African and African American history following the weekend celebration, check out a few of these events below.
- 2023 Niagara Juneteenth Celebration @ City Hall and Legend’s Park I June 19th from 9AM - 9PM
- Juneteenth Ride @ Broderick Park I June 19 from 6:30-10:00 PM
- ‘On Juneteenth’ Book Discussion Join Event w/ Burning Books I June 20 @ 7PM
- MAAFA Ceremony @ 6PM in Broderick Park I June 21 @ 6PM
- Wealth Building Workshop with Andrew Cheatham I June 28 from 5:00-7:00 PM
For more information and to stay updated on any upcoming events, click here.
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