A Harlem-inspired dinner headlines this year's Juneteenth offerings
While some details of the menu are being kept as a surprise, confirmed dishes include braised short ribs, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, sweet potato pie and cornbread with whipped honey butter.
A culinary and cultural celebration combining food, music and storytelling will cap off a month of Juneteenth programming at the university. The June 26 "Art of Food" dinner will feature dishes inspired by the Harlem Renaissance in the 1910s, '20s and '30s.
The Harlem Renaissance – which sparked a revival in music, theater, art, fashion and politics – is recognized as one of the most influential periods in Black cultural history.
The dinner will include a talk from Johnique Woods, associate director for event planning with Arizona Student Unions.
Johnique Woods, Associate Director for Event Planning, Arizona Student Unions
"We're highlighting the Harlem Renaissance and its impact on our culture through food, music and literature," Woods said. "We'll have a jazz trio, a four-course tasting, mocktails and a food gallery to peruse. It's an immersive experience."
While some details of the menu are being kept as a surprise, confirmed dishes include braised short ribs, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, sweet potato pie and cornbread with whipped honey butter. (Get your taste buds prepared by viewing this photo gallery of some of the dishes that will be served.)
"Food is a connection point, especially in the Black community," Woods said. "Back in the Harlem Renaissance, people enjoyed concerts or other performances, then came together as a community at supper clubs."
Caleb Simmons, executive director of online education and professor in the Department of Religious Studies and Classics, praised last year's event and says he plans to attend again this year.
The June 26 "Art of Food" dinner will feature dishes inspired by the Harlem Renaissance of the 1910s, '20s and '30s.
"The Beyond Juneteenth dinner was a powerful reminder that food is both history and community," Simmons said. "Through shared meals and stories, we deepen our understanding of Black and African American contributions to American culture. This is the kind of engagement that defines the mission of a land-grant university."
Some of the mocktails will feature drinks from Pure Fuel Sport, a company led by Mustafa Shakur, a University of Arizona alum and former men's basketball player.
Cheree Meeks, Assistant Dean for Leadership and Student Development, W.A. Franke Honors College
The event happens from 4-6 p.m. in the Forum at the Health Sciences Innovation Building. Tickets are $25 and are available online.
Learning with a lecture series
Juneteenth, celebrated each year on June 19, commemorates the arrival of Union soldiers in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 – more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed – to announce that enslaved people in Texas were free. The university began observing Juneteenth as a paid holiday in 2023.
The dinner is the culmination of a lecture series that explores the legacy of Juneteenth and highlights advocacy work from community organizations. Each talk takes place at 2 p.m. in the Student Union Memorial Center Pima room. The presentations are free and open to the public.
The next lecture is June 12, when a representative of the Community Council for Student Success will discuss the organization's support for university students, faculty and staff. On June 17, Cheree Meeks, assistant dean for leadership and student development in the W.A. Franke Honors College, will discuss her work with the NAACP, the nation's oldest civil rights organization.
"I'll be talking about the history of that organization and our ongoing work for access and equity in education, housing and more," said Meeks, who is president of the NAACP's Tucson branch.
Why Juneteenth matters
Organizers hope the lecture series and dinner will become annual traditions as the university continues to observe Juneteenth as an opportunity to engage the community in reflection, celebration and learning.
"Juneteenth being a university holiday means we don't forget a part of history we often avoid," Meeks said. "It's not a pretty part of history, but it's essential to understanding why advocacy and action are important today."