Welcome
The United States has been celebrating African-American Music Appreciation Month in June since 1979. The month of June is set aside to appreciate the contributions of African-American musicians, composers, singers, and songwriters in American culture. In Pittsburgh, events are scheduled as part of the celebration.
Black Music Month
Holiday History
The United States has been celebrating African-American Music Appreciation Month in June since 1979. The month of June is set aside to appreciate the contributions of African-American musicians, composers, singers, and songwriters in American culture. The month honors the history and rich African traditions that gave birth to different styles of music such as rap, hip-hop, jazz, rhythm and blues, barbershop, and swing. It is also the month to celebrate creative inspiration and appreciate the impact that African-American music has had on generations of performers and music lovers! From tales of slavery and racism and fighting for their basic human rights to finding their heritage and values in their lyrics, Black music covers a vast range of topics that have great significance for this community. Over the years, we have seen Black musicians reach great heights, not only on official music record charts but also at entertainment award ceremonies. While President Jimmy Carter designated June as Black Music Month in 1979, it wasn’t until 2000 when the presidential proclamation for the month was signed. President Barack Obama, in 2009, went on to rename the month from Black Music Month to its current name, African-American Music Appreciation Month.
(source: NationalToday.com)
Black Music Timeline
Blues is born from the racial oppression and the struggles Black people faced, take a look at the timeline of key events.
How to Celebrate
Donate an instrument to a school, stream your favorite artists, here is some ideas on how to celebrate Black Music Month.
Frequently asked questions
How did Black Music become popular? Is jazz Black music? Find out more probing answers to your questions regarding Black Music.
Pgh Freedom Days Fest
2022 WPA JUNETEENTH FREEDOM DAYS
Pittsburgh-Allegheny Co. Freedom Days Fest
Juneteenth Celebration involves Africa American Culture Education l Live Music l Vendors l Speakers l and more
Date of Events: June 17-June 19
Daily Start Time: 11am and End Time: 9pm
JUNE17th through JUNE 19th
PROGRAM TBT
Description: Juneteenth is the celebration of the end of chattel slavery and was first started in Texas in 1865 when the last enslaved people learned that the Civil War was over and that the Union had won the war.
Juneteenth is celebrated in 50 States across America and is the Country's second Independence Day. Our Festival started in 2013 and this year marks the first Pittsburgh and Allegheny County legal holiday in this region. In 2021, the U.S. Congress declared Juneteenth a Federal holiday.
Sponsored By: The Heinz Endowments, Elsie H. Hillman Foundation, PNC Bank, CMU, UPMC, Highmark Wholecare, City of Pittsburgh, PA Lottery, American Eagle Outfitters Foundation, Vibrant Pittsburgh, KeyBank, Pittsburgh Black McDonald's Owner/Operators, Dollar Bank, The Meadows Casino, AAA East, Port Authority, URA, VisitPITTSBURGH, First National Bank, Riverside Auto, AHN, the Allegheny Conference and POISE Foundation.
PA COVID
PA Unites Against COVID - Get Vaccine Facts
It looks like COVID-19 may be with us for a while. So, let’s keep doing the simple things to slow the spread. Explore this site to learn more about what you can do to protect yourself, your family, business, neighbors, and community from COVID.
Juneteenth Fact
Facts: Juneteenth
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally-celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.
Fact #1: Following the issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, not all enslaved people immediately found freedom.
The Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in states then in rebellion against the United States. Union troops operating in said states gave teeth to the Proclamation. This, however, did not apply to the border states.