Framing Juneteenth: Educators and Writers in Conversation

Join author Joy Jones in conversation with educator Hoke Glover and writers Jonetta Rose Barras and Tricia Elam Walker to discuss Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. This significant holiday in the United States commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Juneteenth represents a pivotal moment in American history, symbolizing freedom, resilience, and the ongoing struggle for equality. About the speakers: Joy Jones is a popular speaker and trainer on topics of black history, culture and the arts. She is the author of several books for adults and children. Her most recent are Fearless Public Speaking, a how-to for teens, and Jayla Jumps In, chosen as one of the best sports books for children by the American Library Association. She is also the founder of the double Dutch team, DC Retro Jumpers. Joy’s next book is The Sky Is Not Blue which debuts Fall 2024. Visit her at: . Hoke Glover is a Professor at Bowie State University in the Department of Language, Literature, and Cultural Studies, where he teaches Composition, Creative Writing and Poetry. Prior to that he founded and operated Karibu Books for fifteen years, one of the nation’s largest black-owned chain of bookstores. Jonetta Rose Barras is a columnist and former reporter for the Washington Times, a former associate editor of the Washington City Paper, and a contributor to the New Republic. She frequently contributes to The Washington Post and is the author of the bestseller, Whatever Happened to Daddy’s Little Girl. Tricia Elam Walker is an award-winning author, attorney and educator. She is the author of the novel, Breathing Room and numerous children’s books including Akua Goes to School, which received the 2021 Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award and the Children’s Africana Book Award. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, Essence and other publications, and she has provided commentary for NPR, CNN, the BBC and more. She is an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at Howard University in Washington, DC.