From Soul of the Southside in Minneapolis to Opal’s Walk for Freedom in St. Paul and celebrations in St. Cloud, Winona, Marshall and beyond, here is your comprehensive guide to Juneteenth 2026 events across Minnesota.
Black history
Posted inLocal & State
100 Years of Service and Legacy: Honoring Dr. John M. Warren Sr.
Dr. John M. Warren Sr., one of the first African American podiatrists in Minnesota and a WWII Navy veteran, celebrated his 100th birthday on May 2, 2026, surrounded by family and friends in New Hope.
Posted inBooks
The Black lawyer history forgot
Norma Adams-Wade explores the forgotten legacy of attorney Joseph Edwin Wiley Sr., founder of Dallas’s historic Mill City community, through the unpublished memoir of 105-year-old Pearl Etta McVey-Guthrie.
Posted inLocal & State
Rest in Power: Minnesota Loses a True Warrior in Yusef Mgeni
Yusef Mgeni obituary honors the Black Minnesota historian, community organizer and St. Paul NAACP leader whose generational legacy will echo for decades to come.
Posted inOpinion
Why a rumor about the Iran war and Black safety feels so real
The Iran Black Americans viral claim is unverified but resonates because of a documented history of solidarity rhetoric and a deeper truth about Black safety in America.
Posted inEducation
St. Paul’s Benjamin E. Mays school to launch afrocentric program this fall
St. Paul Benjamin E. Mays Afrocentric program launches this fall in the Rondo neighborhood, teaching through Black history and centering African American student excellence.
Posted inOpinion
Selma was not just history, it was a warning
The Selma Bloody Sunday legacy continues to shape modern civil rights movements and discussions about protest and state power.
Posted inEducation
Professor examines lives of enslaved people in Spain, Santo Domingo and Puerto Rico
A Macalester lecture on transatlantic bondage explored the lives of enslaved Africans in Spain, Santo Domingo and Puerto Rico through new historical research.
Posted inSports
Committee Sports Group Highlights Black Coaches and Athletes During Black History Month
Committee Sports Group used Black History Month to highlight Black coaches and athletes and their historic accomplishments across the sports world.
Posted inBlack History
Fifty years of Black progress and paradox
Black progress and racial disparities Minnesota reflect decades of advancement tempered by persistent wealth, education and justice gaps.
Posted inBlack History
Pilgrim Baptist remains faithful to legacy and mission
Pilgrim Baptist Church Minnesota history traces its founding by freedom seekers in 1863 and its lasting role as a spiritual and civic anchor in St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood.
Posted inBlack History
Dred Scott vs Sanford, inflamed slavery debate with Midwest roots
The Dred Scott Supreme Court decision reshaped the nation’s slavery debate. Scott’s time at Fort Snelling in Minnesota is often overlooked.
Posted inOpinion
Erasing exhibits will never erase Black history
Erasing Black history from public exhibits has raised concerns about censorship, truth, and collective memory.
Posted inBlack History
‘Our First Bus Ride’ brings Hale-Field school integration history to life
Black history Minneapolis school integration is explored in a new children’s book recounting the 1971 Hale-Field Elementary bus ride.
Posted inBlack History
Meet Charlotte Ray, first licensed African American woman lawyer
Charlotte Ray became the first Black woman licensed to practice law in the United States after overcoming racism and sexism in the 19th century.
Posted inBlack History
Rooted in history, rising in STEAM
Black Americans remain underrepresented in STEAM fields. These four trailblazers show how representation, access, and mentorship can inspire future innovators.
Posted inBlack History
Before Obama and Harris: Black pioneers who ran for president
Long before Barack Obama and Kamala Harris, early Black presidential candidates challenged racism, voter suppression, and political exclusion while paving the way for future generations.
Posted inSpecial Edition - Echoes of Unity
Museum carries King’s vision of unity through history
In the Echoes of Unity Special Edition, the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery highlights how Black history, art, and storytelling foster unity and healing.
Posted inSpecial Edition - Echoes of Unity
Cliff Johnson: From Jacksonville Juke Joints to West Point’s First African American Bandsman
In the Echoes of Unity Special Edition, Cliff Johnson reflects on music, perseverance, and breaking barriers as the first Black member of the West Point Band.
Posted inSpecial Edition - Echoes of Unity
Dr. Artika Tyner: Building unity through education and community leadership
In the Echoes of Unity Special Edition, Dr. Artika Tyner shares how education, culture, and kinship networks empower leadership and strengthen communities across generations.