Blab News
BLD PWR Announces Three-Day Juneteenth Celebration in Houston
From Thursday to Saturday, Houston’s streets will pulse with the rhythm of freedom as BLD PWR transforms the Blank Canvas Space into a living celebration of Juneteenth. The nonprofit, founded by actor‑activist Kendrick Sampson, has outlined a three‑day program titled Juneteenth Weekend at The SLAB that promises to return the holiday to its roots while honoring the city’s Black heritage.
The event begins on Thursday, June 18, when the doors to the SLAB – the organization’s cultural hub built around Houston’s low‑rider tradition – open at 3 p.m. Under the theme Magic Hour, attendees will experience a Slab Line opening, a pre‑release screening of Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters, and a living‑room dialogue featuring Riley, Sampson, and Nana Gyamfi of BAJI. The day closes with a WAGBT Karaoke session at The Function, setting the tone for a weekend that blends storytelling, organizing, and joy.
Friday, June 19, marks the heart of the celebration. The theme, Juneteenth in the home of Juneteenth, pays homage to Houston’s long‑standing role in the holiday’s history. Doors open at 11 a.m. and partners such as SisterSong, the Global Black Economic Forum, and Road to Essence join forces to create a block party that feels like a communal feast. Food trucks, vendors, a DJ, and local slabs line the streets, while the Talk Yo Shit Soapbox, Free Yo Mind grounding room, and a Center for Cultural Power mural activation invite participants to engage in conversation and creative expression. High‑profile livestreams include a Keke Palmer broadcast and a Mafia Game featuring Palmer, Sampson, and Houston legends. The day also hosts a pre‑release screening of Isaac Yowman’s Sincerely Brad with Yowman, Monica Simpson of SisterSong, Aaliyah Haqq of GBEF, and special guests, followed by a WAGBT Karaoke session headed by Miriam Echo.
Saturday, June 20, caps the weekend with The Sessions R&B Jam. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show begins at 8 p.m. The lineup will feature live R&B performances and a headlining artist yet to be announced. Attendees can choose from section seating, VIP tables, or general admission, ensuring that everyone can find a place to celebrate.
Juneteenth itself commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in Texas on June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston and enforced the Emancipation Proclamation. The holiday became a federal observance in 2021, but Houston has long been a crucible of Juneteenth celebrations and community organizing. Sampson, a Houston native, has said that Galveston is the birthplace of Juneteenth, while Houston is its home.
Sampson’s work with BLD PWR reflects his broader activism in mental health, state violence, gender and sexual liberation, and radical Black liberation. By co‑founding the nonprofit, he leverages Hollywood resources to shift culture toward individual and collective care and freedom. The Juneteenth Weekend at The SLAB brings together actors, filmmakers, organizers, and Houston creatives for storytelling, cultural conversation, and community building.
Tickets are available online, and the event underscores Houston’s central place in the Juneteenth narrative. It offers a platform for Black joy, freedom, and collective empowerment, concluding with an R‑B jam that invites attendees to reflect on the significance of Juneteenth and the ongoing work of BLD PWR.
The weekend’s schedule is as follows: • Thursday, June 18 – BLD PWR Day (theme: Magic Hour). Doors open at 3 p.m. Activities include a Slab Line opening, a pre‑release screening of Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters, a living‑room experience with Riley, Sampson, and Nana Gyamfi of BAJI, and WAGBT Karaoke at The Function. • Friday, June 19 – Juneteenth day (theme: Juneteenth in the home of Juneteenth). Doors open at 11 a.m. Partners include SisterSong, Global Black Economic Forum, and Road to Essence. The day features a block party with food trucks, vendors, a DJ, slabs, Talk Yo Shit Soapbox, a Free Yo Mind grounding room, and a Center for Cultural Power mural activation; a Keke Palmer livestream; a Mafia Game livestream with Palmer, Sampson, and Houston legends; a pre‑release screening of Isaac Yowman’s Sincerely Brad with Yowman, Monica Simpson (SisterSong), Aaliyah Haqq (GBEF), and special guests; and WAGBT Karaoke with headlining performance by Miriam Echo. • Saturday, June 20 – The Sessions R&B Jam. Doors open at 7 p.m.; the show starts at 8 p.m. The event includes live R&B performances, a headlining artist to be announced, section seating, VIP tables, and general admission.
The event reflects Houston’s role in the Juneteenth narrative and offers a platform for Black joy, freedom, and collective empowerment.
The event begins on Thursday, June 18, when the doors to the SLAB – the organization’s cultural hub built around Houston’s low‑rider tradition – open at 3 p.m. Under the theme Magic Hour, attendees will experience a Slab Line opening, a pre‑release screening of Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters, and a living‑room dialogue featuring Riley, Sampson, and Nana Gyamfi of BAJI. The day closes with a WAGBT Karaoke session at The Function, setting the tone for a weekend that blends storytelling, organizing, and joy.
Friday, June 19, marks the heart of the celebration. The theme, Juneteenth in the home of Juneteenth, pays homage to Houston’s long‑standing role in the holiday’s history. Doors open at 11 a.m. and partners such as SisterSong, the Global Black Economic Forum, and Road to Essence join forces to create a block party that feels like a communal feast. Food trucks, vendors, a DJ, and local slabs line the streets, while the Talk Yo Shit Soapbox, Free Yo Mind grounding room, and a Center for Cultural Power mural activation invite participants to engage in conversation and creative expression. High‑profile livestreams include a Keke Palmer broadcast and a Mafia Game featuring Palmer, Sampson, and Houston legends. The day also hosts a pre‑release screening of Isaac Yowman’s Sincerely Brad with Yowman, Monica Simpson of SisterSong, Aaliyah Haqq of GBEF, and special guests, followed by a WAGBT Karaoke session headed by Miriam Echo.
Saturday, June 20, caps the weekend with The Sessions R&B Jam. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show begins at 8 p.m. The lineup will feature live R&B performances and a headlining artist yet to be announced. Attendees can choose from section seating, VIP tables, or general admission, ensuring that everyone can find a place to celebrate.
Juneteenth itself commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in Texas on June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston and enforced the Emancipation Proclamation. The holiday became a federal observance in 2021, but Houston has long been a crucible of Juneteenth celebrations and community organizing. Sampson, a Houston native, has said that Galveston is the birthplace of Juneteenth, while Houston is its home.
Sampson’s work with BLD PWR reflects his broader activism in mental health, state violence, gender and sexual liberation, and radical Black liberation. By co‑founding the nonprofit, he leverages Hollywood resources to shift culture toward individual and collective care and freedom. The Juneteenth Weekend at The SLAB brings together actors, filmmakers, organizers, and Houston creatives for storytelling, cultural conversation, and community building.
Tickets are available online, and the event underscores Houston’s central place in the Juneteenth narrative. It offers a platform for Black joy, freedom, and collective empowerment, concluding with an R‑B jam that invites attendees to reflect on the significance of Juneteenth and the ongoing work of BLD PWR.
The weekend’s schedule is as follows: • Thursday, June 18 – BLD PWR Day (theme: Magic Hour). Doors open at 3 p.m. Activities include a Slab Line opening, a pre‑release screening of Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters, a living‑room experience with Riley, Sampson, and Nana Gyamfi of BAJI, and WAGBT Karaoke at The Function. • Friday, June 19 – Juneteenth day (theme: Juneteenth in the home of Juneteenth). Doors open at 11 a.m. Partners include SisterSong, Global Black Economic Forum, and Road to Essence. The day features a block party with food trucks, vendors, a DJ, slabs, Talk Yo Shit Soapbox, a Free Yo Mind grounding room, and a Center for Cultural Power mural activation; a Keke Palmer livestream; a Mafia Game livestream with Palmer, Sampson, and Houston legends; a pre‑release screening of Isaac Yowman’s Sincerely Brad with Yowman, Monica Simpson (SisterSong), Aaliyah Haqq (GBEF), and special guests; and WAGBT Karaoke with headlining performance by Miriam Echo. • Saturday, June 20 – The Sessions R&B Jam. Doors open at 7 p.m.; the show starts at 8 p.m. The event includes live R&B performances, a headlining artist to be announced, section seating, VIP tables, and general admission.
The event reflects Houston’s role in the Juneteenth narrative and offers a platform for Black joy, freedom, and collective empowerment.
