Juneteenth at the Vance Birthplace

The Vance Birthplace State Historic Site and the American Myth Center will partner for Juneteenth on Saturday, June 18, 2022 to present an afternoon of historical drama and discussion on the appropriation of African American stories, resiliency among enslaved people, and the romanticized view of the plantation past.

This three-act piece begins with a tour of the 1790s slave dwelling and includes the contextualization of the stories of Brer Rabbit. Followed by the play, “Leah & the Rabbit,” that utilizes the historic tales to tell the story of Leah, an enslaved woman that lived on the Vance plantation, the program will conclude with a discussion on the play, the perpetuation of the Lost Cause mentality, and the reclaiming of our collective histories. We are excited to work with writer and director Mikayla Wilson and to welcome Dr. Oralene Simmons, internationally recognized civil rights leader, to the site for the post-play discussion.

The program is free and will begin on June 18th at 1:00 pm and run approximately an hour and a half. Space is limited and registration is encouraged. This is an outdoor program. Some chairs are available but participants are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets. You can learn more and register online here.