Launching of the multi-year initiative BLACK SQUARE NARRATIVES 1823 – 2023 A Bicentennial Activation of St. Louis Cemetery No. 2 in New Orleans, Louisiana The Louisiana Museum of African American History (LMAAH)
The Louisiana Museum of African American History or LMAAH presents a two-day Juneteenth event, in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation National Park Service, and the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, at the Historic St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church to launch its new, multi-year initiative BLACK SQUARE NARRATIVES 1823 – 2023.
With education and democratic, civic activation for the preservation and promotion of Black Square, in St. Louis Cemetery No. 2 in New Orleans, Louisiana as its mission, LMAAH will facilitate a two-year, multi-organizational, collaborative research and writing initiative, to develop a new archive referred to as the BLACK SQUARE NARRATIVES Archive. In addition, LMAAH will commission a new, interdisciplinary, authoritative body to produce the archive, referred to as the NEW ORLEANS BLACK SQUARE NETWORK (NOBSN) pronounced NO-B-S-N. Scholars and Artists will be invited to produce new, interdisciplinary works based on research in the BLACK SQUARE NARRATIVES Archive.
“This grant will allow us to launch a major campaign to galvanize the collective genius of our community in our interest to continue to educate our people, the general public, and future generations about the historical and cultural significance of Black Square to the Mississippi Delta and the whole country,” states Monique Moss, Director, and Curator of the Louisiana Museum of African American History or LMAAH.
“Hidden in plain sight, Black Square is arguably the largest memorial in America dedicated to Black champions of freedom and complete emancipation who fought during critical periods in history including the Haitian Revolution, chattel enslavement, the Civil War, and the counter-revolutionary period of Reconstruction,” professes Leon A. Waters, Historian and Chair of the Board of LMAAH.
In a two-day commemoration of Juneteenth hosted at the Historic St. James AME Church, the inauguration of BLACK SQUARE NARRATIVES begins on Friday, June 14th from 6 -9 pm. LMAAH opens an exhibition and walk-through featuring new, commissioned artworks based on Black Square by Fine Artist JRenee; with presentations on Black Square by scholars Denise Augustine, Barbara Trevigne, Beryl Hunter, Monique Moss, and Jonn Hankins.
On Saturday June 15th LMAAH presents a full Cultural Program from 2-5 pm featuring presentations by Leon A. Waters (The Real Reason to Celebrate Juneteenth), Dr. Raphael Cassimere, Jr., (Heroes and Heroines from the Black Church to Black Square), Mark Roudane, Opera Creole, Third Eye Theatre, and Cultural Ties African Diaspora Dance and Percussions. The event culminates with a singing procession from Historic St. James AME Church to Black Square in St. Louis Cemetery No. 2.
Both events at Historic St. James AME Church located at 222 North Roman Street are FREE and open to the public.
For more information about LMAAH’s two-day Juneteenth Event at Historic St. James AME Church on Friday, June 14th and Saturday, June 15th contact LMAAH at lamuseumafrique@gmail.com or 504-432-9901
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