KINSHIP AND COMMUNITY ON JUNETEENTH

Longfellow's Soul of Southside celebrates Black Liberation with food, music, dance and more.

SIMS performs at the Hook and Ladder during the third annual Soul of the Southside festival on June 19. Presented by The Legacy Building, the celebration of Black liberation offered drum circles, live music, food trucks, a Black-owned marketplace, and spoken word shows.

Photo by Tesha M. Christensen

Marianne McCulloch is CEO of BrazilianFuncky. She has been making handcrafted jewelry since she was a child, which has helped her see beyond the dark clouds to the color in her art.

Photo by Terbuto Ochothow

Bossy Barbie Dollz Dance Studio students perform indoor at the Hook and Ladder during Soul of the Southside on Juneteenth, June 19, 2024.

Photo by Tesha M. Christensen

Phil McGraw is the owner of Plant Bar Cafe, a juice bar that delivers fresh and nutritious drinks. McGraw highlights the importance of health and safety, as well as how much he has benefitted, and he uses this to teach and motivate others about the importance of diet.

Photo by Terbuto Ochothow

Priscilla Momah performs live on stage. A Minnesota native currently residing on the Big Island of Hawaii, she connects with her West African ancestors to display and explore her diversified experience as a young, melanated, free-spirited Queen.

Photo by Terbuto Ochothow

(Left to right) Ronnie Spann, Genesia Williams, and Olivia Funkhouser Reynolds of the Open Road Fund assist Black individuals, families, and communities in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota in building community and intergenerational wealth.

Photo by Terbuto Ochothow

Everything he creates is from scratch, said Abdi Ahmed, owner of Sambusa Express. Earlier in the day, Ahmed had the largest line of customers waiting to order crispy, golden, delicious sambusas. Sambusa Express is located in St Paul.

Photo by Terbuto Ochothow

Moriah McLendon, Apple Valley native sells T-shirts as a memorial of Justice for George.

Photo by Terbuto Ochothow

Mind the Crown weeks to be the antithesis of the negativity people encounter every day, according to its staff. "Recognize that the crown represents your strength and ability to succeed. It serves as a powerful reminder for both you and those you care about," they say.

Photo by Terbuto Ochothow