Southern California Honors Juneteenth with Music, Legacy, and Unity
By Dr. Marie Y. Lemelle, PhD
On Saturday, June 14, 2025, the Crystal Ballroom at the Golden Sails Hotel in Long Beach, California, pulsed with ancestral energy as Yaba TV presented its inaugural Juneteenth Cultural Celebration, themed “Remembering Freedom Delayed and Honoring African Heritage.”
This powerful evening of remembrance and celebration honored June 19, 1865 — the day enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas were finally told they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed. That delay in freedom shaped generations — and Juneteenth now stands as a nationally recognized day of justice, resilience, and joy.
“We’re not just remembering history — we’re reclaiming it.” — Elizabeth Yaba, CEO, Yaba TV
A Tribute Through Culture and Community
From the moment the doors opened, the air was filled with the rhythm of drums and vibrant dances representing Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, and Guinea. Guests were transported to the African continent, not through history books, but through the sights and sounds of a living heritage.
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Elizabeth Yaba, the visionary behind Yaba TV, welcomed attendees with a message of unity and pride:
“This isn’t just a celebration. This is our legacy. Our freedom story doesn’t start or stop in 1865 — it continues through every drumbeat, every voice, every one of us who dares to remember and rise.”
Among the evening’s distinguished guests were:
- Sharifah Hardie, California gubernatorial candidate and advocate for economic empowerment
- Mayor Emma Sharif, City of Compton
- Councilman Jonathan Bowers, Compton District 3
- Idrees Degas, award-winning actor
Local vendors, artists, and community leaders also took part, making the event both a celebration and an ecosystem of Black excellence.
Juneteenth Celebrations Across Southern California
Missed the event in Long Beach? There are still several inspiring opportunities to experience Juneteenth across Southern California this month:
Gospel Voices of OC
Presented by Musco Center & Chapman University
Sunday, June 22, 2025 | 6:00 PM
Musco Center for the Arts, 415 N. Glassell St., Orange, CA
Produced by Debora Wondercheck, CEO of the Arts & Learning Conservatory, this 4th annual event features soul-stirring gospel, classical, jazz, and spiritual music. Expect stirring tributes to legends like Nina Simone, Sojourner Truth, and Duke Ellington — all wrapped in a night of unity and powerful performance.
Culver City Juneteenth Celebration 2025
Saturday, June 21 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Ivy Station, Culver City
A free, family-focused event filled with:
- A performance of the Black National Anthem
- Live music
- Kids’ activities
- Local Black-owned vendors
- Delicious food trucks
- Community resources
Bring the whole family for a meaningful afternoon of culture and connection.
City of West Hollywood Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 21 | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
647 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069
Celebrate Freedom Day with live music, captivating performances, local Black-owned business vendors, and delicious eats. Event is free and open to the public. Validated parking is available at the 5-story garage at 625 N. San Vicente Blvd.
More Than a Holiday — A Movement
The celebrations across Southern California are more than events — they are reminders. Reminders that freedom was delayed, but culture endures. That pain was inherited, but so was power. And that the story of Black America continues to be written in every celebration, every memory, every act of unity.
“Juneteenth is a mirror,” said Elizabeth Yaba. “It shows us who we’ve been, who we are, and who we’re still becoming.”
For a full list of upcoming Juneteenth events in Southern California, visit:
👉🏾 www.blackculturalevents.com
#Juneteenth | #YabaTV | #FreedomDay | #CelebrateBlackCulture | #SouthernCaliforniaEvents
