A Dialogue On Juneteenth & Black Music Appreciation Month

To kick off this week's Dialogue, our host Kennedy Vincent speaks with Champaign-Urbana community members at the Juneteenth Festival at Douglass Park, including Illinois Soul advisor Shandra Summerville, librarian Essie Harris, and Champaign Park District program manager Robert White. They talk about what Black liberation means to the community, and what the ongoing efforts are to make the yearly Juneteenth event more accessible.

Following this, Kennedy speaks with acclaimed alto-saxophone player and jazz director Dr. Reginald Lewis. June marks Black Music Appreciation Month, which is an annual celebration of African-American music in the United States. Dr. Lewis discusses this, as well as the history and importance of music in Black culture, and the formation of different genres such as rap, jazz and soul.

GUESTS:

Shandra Summerville

Member of the Champaign County Mental Health Board,  Developmental Disabilities Board and a part of the Community Advisory for Illinois Soul and WILL

Essie Harris

Librarian and Douglass Branch Manager of Champaign Public Library

Robert White

Sponsorship, Special Events and Seniors Programs Manager at Champaign Park District

Dr. Reginald Lewis

Director of Jazz at Illinois Wesleyan University and teacher of Jazz Improvisation at Chicago State University