In celebration of Juneteenth and the United States’ semi-quincentennial, Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) is hosting “America 250 Celebration: From 1619 to America250” on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at Chelsea Studios in New York City.
The evening will feature a fireside chat with Pulitzer Prize-winning scholar and author of “The 1619 Project,” Nikole Hannah-Jones, and BMAC co-founder, president, and CEO Willie “Prophet” Stiggers. Together, Hannah-Jones and Stiggers will discuss the topic of “Redefining Patriotism” and reflect on the Black community’s centuries-long and challenging history in the United States, what being patriotic means as Black Americans, and how the community can forge forward with reclaiming not only the culture but the ideals the United States ought to stand on.
“As America approaches its 250th anniversary, we have a responsibility to ask not only where we’ve been, but who will define where we’re going. These artists are more than talented musicians…theyare storytellers, culture makers, and architects of the future,” says Stiggers. “Their voices reflect the richness, diversity, and evolution of Black music in America. Through this initiative, BMAC is investing in creators who remind us that music remains one of our nation’s greatest forces for connection, truth, and progress.”
