Caribbean American Heritage Month and Juneteenth celebration honors poet Jupiter Hammon

The Caribbean American Poetry Association (CAPA) will observe Caribbean American Heritage Month and Juneteenth with a tribute to poet Jupiter Hammon, born 1711, the first published Black poet in the United States.

The celebration, presented in partnership with Preservation Long Island (PLI), will gather poets, musicians, playwrights, and actors for a commemoration on Thursday, June 19 from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Joseph Lloyd Manor—the former plantation house where Jupiter Hammon was enslaved, now a house museum stewarded by PLI. It was there that Hammon authored his most significant works exploring the moral conflicts of slavery and freedom in the early United States.

“Jupiter Hammon’s grandparents were enslaved on a plantation in Barbados owned by the Sylvester family, who eventually brought them to Long Island,” according to Andrew Tharler, Preservation Long Island’s Education and Engagement director. “Preservation Long Island is excited to celebrate Juneteenth at Joseph Lloyd Manor and honor the legacy of Jupiter Hammon. He wrote powerfully about liberty, justice, and perseverance, and we hope this event will bring more attention to his inspirational words.”

The celebration will begin with live music and self-guided tours of the manor at 1 Lloyd Lane in Lloyd Harbor, followed by a responsive reading of one of Hammon’s works, and performances by Keisha-Gaye Anderson, Yasmin Morais, and Lindamichelle Baron.

“We invite everyone to join us as we celebrate the vibrant culture of the Caribbean during National Caribbean American Heritage Month.  We are also excited about the opportunity to commemorate the day when all enslaved people in the United States were freed.” said Dr. Beryl R. Williams, CAPA’s president and founder.  “We look forward to welcoming students, poets, and members of the community to this exciting event.”

The celebration will include a Student Open Poetry Mic led by Suffolk County Teen Poet Laureate Sarah Goodman, a gifted junior at Commack High School, and Nassau County’s first Teen Poet Laureate, Katherine Galbraith-Chan, an honor student at East Williston High School. ‘Every Family Got Beef’, a mini hip-hopera by award-winning playwright and poet Marsha M. Nelson will be performed, and Reggae artist Khalilah Rose and Guitarist Jhony Victor will be providing musical entertainment. The event will close with A Taste of the Caribbean Table — refreshments and samples of Caribbean treats provided by local eateries and markets.

The event is free; however, guests are required to RSVP, as space is limited.