How Mass. is marking its third official Juneteenth

Also: Mass. solar fight pits environmentalist vs. environmentalist; bracing for the end of affirmative action; [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  June 19, 2023 🌤️ Partly sunny, with a high near 70 Good Morning Boston, And happy Juneteenth! Today is the third time Massachusetts will recognize [Juneteenth]( as an [official state holiday]( and communities across the state are holding celebrations. Need a refresher on Juneteenth's origins? Here's [a history lesson on what exactly the day represents]( and how it has been celebrated over the last century and a half. And since state and federal workers (and [increasingly many private sector employees]( get the day off as a [paid holiday]( here's a reminder of [what's open and closed in Massachusetts](. Maybe you have the day off, too. How should you spend it? Let's start with a rundown of a few local Juneteenth events (plus an about-face on the Embrace and what's next for affirmative action). - Head to a local museum: Admission is free today at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, which is hosting a slate of themed programming — including live music, dance, poetry and a roundtable discussion — for its [11th annual Juneteenth open house](. This is also one of the last weeks you'll be able to see the exhibit “Hear Me Now: The Black Potters of Old Edgefield, South Carolina," which [puts a spotlight on an often-overlooked aspect of the American slavery system](. - The MFA isn't your only option. Check out our [arts and culture team's Juneteenth weekend guide]( for other offerings from the ICA, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and more. - Visit the Embrace: The [striking new statue on Boston Common]( honoring the Kings has attracted many visitors. In fact, WBUR's Cristela Guerra reports that it recently won over a new fan. Coretta Scott King’s cousin Seneca Scott, who was one of [the Embrace's first critics]( changed his mind after visiting the sculpture. "I’m happy to say I got to visit the statue in the physical. It was a thrilling experience…so I stand corrected," Scott said at a festival last week hosted by Embrace Boston, the group behind the statue. - What's next: Guerra reports that Embrace Boston is now looking ahead to its next big project: a 31,000-square-foot music hall, museum and arts and culture space. - Take a walk: The Concord Museum will lead a walking tour to teach visitors about the Concord men and women who played a role in the abolitionist movement. The museum also has an anti-slavery gallery that highlights the stories of freed African-Americans. - Psst: The morning walking tour is sold out but there are still [spots left for the 2 p.m. tour](. - Learn about the history of slavery in Boston: This past Friday, the city opened [a new two-floor exhibit at Faneuil Hall]( highlighting the lives of slaves in Boston and how the city upheld the institution of slavery. (You may recall that Faneuil Hall itself has been [the subject of ongoing protests]( over its namesake's role in the slave trade.) - What's new: WBUR's Samantha Coetzee reports that the new exhibit features artifacts from slavery in the city, some of which were discovered during archeological surveys at Faneuil Hall. - Meanwhile, local college and government leaders are bracing for the Supreme Court's decision on the legality of affirmative action. The case centers on admissions policies at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina that consider race. And if the court's conservative majority overturns the legal precedent allowing race-conscious admissions policies, NPR's Nina Totenberg [reports it would not only outlaw affirmative action across higher education]( but also have ripple effects for selective primary and secondary public schools like Boston Latin and potentially other areas like employment. - Zoom out: WBUR's Max Larkin [reports that nine states]( have banned race-conscious admissions at their public universities — leading to an at least temporary, but stark, decline in overall racial diversity. - Zoom in: One Harvard study found that, without affirmative action, the school's Black student population would drop from 14% to 6%. The Crimson has more on [the origins of the lawsuit against Harvard and the history of affirmative action cases](. - What officials are doing: Last week, Gov. Maura Healey [created a new advisory council]( to help the administration promote diversity at colleges in the wake of the anticipated Supreme Court decision. Healey's administration is also trying to highlight free college planning tools like [MEFA Pathway](. P.S.— Radio Boston is devoting today's full show to a discussion about what Juneteenth means for Black Bostonians — and whether, with more representatives of color in power and investments in equity, the city is on the brink of real change. You can [listen to the special hour early online here](. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [In some fights over solar, it's environmentalist vs. environmentalist]( The U.S. needs a lot more renewable energy to meet its climate goals. In some communities, the opposition to large solar projects comes from environmentalists themselves. [Read more.]( [In some fights over solar, it's environmentalist vs. environmentalist]( The U.S. needs a lot more renewable energy to meet its climate goals. In some communities, the opposition to large solar projects comes from environmentalists themselves. [Read more.]( [Families of donors to Harvard Medical School are angry, grieving over alleged body thefts]( Some families are still waiting to hear whether their loved ones' bodies were among those allegedly stolen and sold by the former Harvard morgue manager. [Read more.]( [Families of donors to Harvard Medical School are angry, grieving over alleged body thefts]( Some families are still waiting to hear whether their loved ones' bodies were among those allegedly stolen and sold by the former Harvard morgue manager. [Read more.]( [Multiple mass shootings across the U.S. leave at least 6 dead on holiday weekend]( The shootings stretching from coast to coast follow a surge in homicides and other violence over the past several years that experts say accelerated during the coronavirus pandemic. [Read more.]( [Multiple mass shootings across the U.S. leave at least 6 dead on holiday weekend]( The shootings stretching from coast to coast follow a surge in homicides and other violence over the past several years that experts say accelerated during the coronavirus pandemic. [Read more.]( [Federal authorities charge three men suspected of vandalizing homes of NHPR journalists]( Prosecutors allege the attacks were 'retaliatory acts intended to harass and intimidate NHPR and its employees.' [Read more.]( [Federal authorities charge three men suspected of vandalizing homes of NHPR journalists]( Prosecutors allege the attacks were 'retaliatory acts intended to harass and intimidate NHPR and its employees.' [Read more.]( [Patriots player Jack Jones arrested at Boston airport after guns found in luggage, police say]( Police say a New England Patriots player was arrested at a security checkpoint at Boston’s Logan Airport after two guns were found in a carry-on bag. [Read more.]( [Patriots player Jack Jones arrested at Boston airport after guns found in luggage, police say]( Police say a New England Patriots player was arrested at a security checkpoint at Boston’s Logan Airport after two guns were found in a carry-on bag. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - This week at CitySpace: We're kicking off the week with two author talks. First, on Tuesday, writer [Elise Hu discusses beauty culture]( and her new book, "Flawless," with WBUR's Cristela Guerra. Wednesday is "Rich Country/Poor Citizens," a discussion with authors Matthew Desmond and Andre Dubus III hosted by Here & Now's Robin Young. (Psst — it's sold out but [virtual tickets are still available]( You've also got the chance to watch a [live taping of NPR and WBUR alum Sam Sanders' podcast "Vibe Check"]( on Thursday and enjoy the musical stylings of [R&B and neo-soul artist Miranda Rae]( on Friday. - Boston Globe columnist Renee Graham argues that Juneteenth is being used by some people to avoid addressing more root issues about systemic racism. [Click here for her interview]( with WBUR Morning Edition host Rupa Shenoy about the holiday's "gentrification" and the tough conversations she feels we should be having - In 1773, while enslaved by a family in Boston, 20-year-old Phillis Wheatley became the first African-American to publish a volume of poetry. To mark the 20th anniversary of the Back Bay memorial honoring her and two other pioneering women, Black Boston-based composer and musician Mel Fitzhugh [premiered a piece in honor of Wheatley]( that you can listen to now. - Our Cognoscenti team recently sat down with Dawn Meredith Simmons and Maurice Emmanuel Parent, the co-founders of the local Black theater company The Front Porch Arts Collective. [Read their Q&A here]( to learn about the relationship between Black theater and Black culture, what it means to advance racial equity in the theater and how they plan to recognize Juneteenth this year.  What We're Reading 📚 This section is supported by [Beacon Hill Books]( a new independent bookstore. - How NBA Twitter fixed basketball’s bad officiating ([Slow Boring]( - Free money: Germany's €200 culture ticket for 18-year-olds ([DW]( - In Alaska, Tribal Governments Push for Larger Conservation Role ([Undark Magazine](  Sound On [Queer rockers Man on Man find a creative safety zone in 'Provincetown']( Life and musical partners Roddy Bottum and Joey Holman live in P-Town part-time and say the acceptance they’ve found there has helped with their music. “It allows your mind to be in a natural state of rest and safety. It gives us confidence." [Read more.]( [Queer rockers Man on Man find a creative safety zone in 'Provincetown']( Life and musical partners Roddy Bottum and Joey Holman live in P-Town part-time and say the acceptance they’ve found there has helped with their music. “It allows your mind to be in a natural state of rest and safety. It gives us confidence." [Read more.]( Listen: The Common delves into [what it takes to maintain Boston City Hall — and what may be needed in the future](. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: [They do exist.]( 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📧 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.]( Support the news   Want to change how you receive these emails? Stop getting this newsletter by [updating your preferences.](  I don't want to hear from WBUR anymore. 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