Juneteenth Jubilee Block Party
African American Museum
Philadelphia
701 Arch St.
June 19, 2026
When Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation order was signed in January 1863, freedom did not sweep through the United States in a swiftly moving wave of sudden reform. Even after the 13th Amendment was passed two years later, many slave owners in this country illegally kept Black Americans in bondage by force and deception. As word spread that the practice of owning and selling human beings had been abolished, Black folks everywhere were tasked with the new challenge of living free lives in a country that had always seen them as slaves.
On June 19, 1865, a Union Major General named Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Granger’s order would have great historical significance as freed people in Galveston Texas marked the occasion with the establishment of Juneteenth, an annual celebration of slavery’s abolition in the U.S. Since 2021, Juneteenth has been recognized as a federal holiday leading to spirited celebrations by Americans nationwide. On June 19, 2026, the African American Museum in Philadelphia hosted its annual Juneteenth block party.
Arch Street was blocked off as thousands of people strolled by multiple food trucks, vendors and a mobile listening station from B-Side Records where attendees could hang out and listen to vinyl records. The Freedom stage — located in AAMP’s side parking lot — and the Liberation stage were packed with musical acts that performed throughout the day. Some of those included Jersey-based soul-jazz singer Leah Jenea, Philly turntable virtuoso Jazzy Jeff, and New York hip-hop legends Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick. The diversity of Black music was on full display as soulful Rockers Amari Rebel and The Movement and the West Powelton Steppers also rocked the house. With radio legend Patty Jackson serving as host and DJ Doc B holding it down between acts, the number of options in such a small window of time was almost overwhelming. As the most widely-known acts on the bill, Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick took to the stage for a mid-afternoon set that served as a masterclass in rap showmanship. As DJ Kaos played a grand, epic musical backdrop, Doug E. Fresh began his set by greeting the crowd and talking a bit about Juneteenth’s history. “...a long time ago, slavery ended but it was extended. It was disrespectful… but as usual, Black people survived and thrived!” From there, he launched into a medley of classic rap tunes. Whether it was DJ Kool’s “Let Me Clear My Throat," or Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock’s “It Takes Two," Doug E. Fresh led the crowd through sing-alongs and his signature call-and-response routines. Slick Rick then joined him and they ran through a murderer’s row of their own classics “The Show," "La Di Da Di," “Hey Young World” and "Children's Story." As they closed their set with a handful of familiar soul classics, it was evident that the spirit of the day was in full swing. Amidst the sounds of The O’Jays’ “Family Reunion” and Frankie Beverly & Maze’s “We Are One," the intergenerational crowd danced and sang along joyfully. Black people have collectively endured the worst crime in human history. In a testament to our strength and resilience; we came out the other side of it able to conjure inexhaustible amounts of love and unity.
