Happy Juneteenth! (And a Recommendation of What to Watch)
Happy Juneteenth! We are committed to recognizing ongoing systemic, anti-Black racism and to fighting for a more equitable future.
If you’re in the market for a film to honor the day, we suggest watching — or re-watching — “Miss Juneteenth,” Channing Godfrey Peoples’ feature directorial. Originally released in 2020, the award-winning mother-daughter drama follows Turquoise (Nicole Beharie, “Sleepy Hollow”), a former beauty queen whose life took unexpected twists and turns after she was named Miss Juneteenth.
“I grew up going to the Miss Juneteenth pageant and always felt inspired by seeing those beautiful young African-American women on stage. It was part of the fabric of my childhood,” Godfrey Peoples told us. “I also grew up in the same tight-knit Texas community in which the film is set. It is in that community that women like Turquoise live who are hardworking, loving, and driven. Those are the women that inspired this story.”
“Miss Juneteenth” is being re-released in theaters today, June 19. Check out our interview with Godfrey Peoples if you’d like to hear more about her inspirations for the film.