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  • PROGRAMS
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    • LOL 4 REAL!
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Always Free! A Juneteenth Celebration

Oni as Mary Ella Grandberry

Oni as Mary Ella Grandberry

Oni as Mary Ella Grandberry

Texas, June 19, 1865 was when the US government announced the end of  slavery in the confederate south in a place called America.

"ALWAYS FREE" is a somber yet joyful celebration for ex-enslaved Africans. 


In the 1930's, 100,000 former enslaved Africans were still alive and interviewed for the Federal Writers Project.(Later renamed WPA)

Alwa

Texas, June 19, 1865 was when the US government announced the end of  slavery in the confederate south in a place called America.

"ALWAYS FREE" is a somber yet joyful celebration for ex-enslaved Africans. 


In the 1930's, 100,000 former enslaved Africans were still alive and interviewed for the Federal Writers Project.(Later renamed WPA)

Always, Free is a powerful intimate journey in American, African American and Civil War History.


American Living History

Oni as Mary Ella Grandberry

Oni as Mary Ella Grandberry

Oni Lasana as Mary Ella Grandberry is on a book tour telling of her painful and jubilant experiences before and after Juneteenth. 


 Paul Laurence Dunbar's conversational southern dialect prose is connected to the narratives of several enslaved African woman's true experiences before and after Juneteenth. 







With Ruby Dee, Harlem, NY

Oni as Mary Ella Grandberry

With Ruby Dee, Harlem, NY

The iconic actress, and civil rights activist RUBY DEE was one of the actors who spoke the account of Katie Rowe in  "UNCHAINED MEMORIES by HBO documentaries in association with the Library of Congress in 2003.

 Always Free highlights the value of education and the power of a people who survived the holocaust of American slavery.


Advertisement Statement

Oni Lasana as Mary Ella Grandberry tells personal stories of life before, and celebrates life after the Civil War. Authentic narratives of enslaved African women. Featuring the spoken words of Paul Laurence Dunbar, music of Sweet Honey In The Rock , Taj Mahal and Jay Unger. 

ALWAYS FREE! 2019 kENNETT sQUARE, PA

When Dey 'Listed Colored Soldiers by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Music: Ashokan Farewell by Jay Unger (c) Swinging Door Music. Used by permission. All Rights Reserved. 

Video by Carol Black. 

Kennett Square, pa - juneteenth celebration 2019

Ante-Bellum Sermon and a true story before the surrender. 

Slavery....the backbone of America... 'lest we forget.

Slavery....the backbone of America... 'lest we forget.

Slavery....the backbone of America... 'lest we forget.

Heroes & Shero's of The Underground Railroad

Slavery....the backbone of America... 'lest we forget.

Slavery....the backbone of America... 'lest we forget.

Juneteenth Celebration, Reading, Pennsylvania

Slavery....the backbone of America... 'lest we forget.

Juneteenth Celebration, Reading, Pennsylvania

A jUNETEENTH STORY, annie mae jumps the brown, eps 12

Oni's Diary ~ Muse : considering something thoughtfully

American History is year round. Experience. Always Free, a Juneteenth Celebration

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