Juneteenth Now: A Conversation on Freedom and Justice
June 19 @ 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
The Western Illinois Museum, in partnership with the McDonough County Chapter of the NAACP, will host a Community Conversation on Our Front Porch titled Juneteenth Now: A Conversation on Freedom and Justice, on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at 5:30 PM. This program invites the community to mark the Juneteenth holiday by reflecting on the ongoing pursuit of equity and justice in the 21st century. Doors open at 5:00 PM, and a light dinner will be served after the conversation. A $5 suggested donation will be graciously accepted at the door.
Juneteenth, celebrated annually on June 19th, commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned they were free, more than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Now recognized as the longest-running Black freedom celebration in the United States and a federal holiday since 2021, Juneteenth offers an opportunity to honor the struggles and achievements of African Americans and to reflect on the unfinished work of equity and civil rights.
The conversation will feature engaged community leader Byron K. Oden-Shabazz and historian Dr. Timothy Roberts, who will share their perspectives on how the legacy of Juneteenth continues to shape our communities today. The program invites open dialogue and collective reflection on how we can work together to build a more just and inclusive society.
Held in the museum’s Our Front Porch space—a casual and welcoming setting designed to foster connection and conversation—the event offers an environment where all voices are valued and community members can engage in thoughtful, respectful discussion.
For more information, call 309-837-2750, text 309-837-2613, or email info@wimuseum.org. A full schedule of events is available at wimuseum.org, and you can follow the museum on social media @wimuseum.
About Byron K. Oden-Shabazz
Byron K. Oden-Shabazz moved to Macomb from Toledo, Ohio, in 1999 and quickly became a driving force for equity, racial justice, and community development. Drawing from personal and professional experience, he has worked to create space for dialogue, collaboration, and progress in his adopted hometown.
He has served as president of the local NAACP, co-founded the Shared Community Action Group, and established the Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian Project and Foundation, which honored the Civil Rights leader’s Macomb roots with state historical markers and national fraternity recognition.
A longtime member and leader in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Oden-Shabazz also helped launch Bridge Builders and serves on the board of the Western Illinois Regional Council Community Action Agency (WIRC-CAA), both focused on improving quality of life and expanding access to resources. In his role as a City of Macomb alderman, he works to represent residents and advocate for inclusive policies that move the community forward.
His vision includes opening The Gentleman’s Chamber—a one-stop space offering grooming, wellness, and professional services for men. Deeply invested in Macomb’s future, he remains a committed advocate for opportunity, inclusion, and meaningful change.
About Dr. Timothy Roberts
Dr. Timothy Roberts joined the WIU Department of History in 2008 as a specialist in nineteenth-century American history. He earned his D.Phil. from the University of Oxford in 1998 and taught at Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey, from 2002 to 2008, where he coordinated the U.S. History program. At WIU, he regularly teaches courses on legal and military history, the Civil War era, and U.S. history surveys. He also offers graduate seminars in nineteenth-century and public history and has developed courses on global U.S. history and modern slavery.
Roberts led WIU’s first study abroad group to Turkey in 2012 and co-founded Western Against Slavery, an anti-human trafficking group on campus. He also advised the Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society.
His work has earned numerous honors, including a Fulbright Lectureship in China, Mellon Foundation Fellowships, NEH/ALA grants, and Harvard’s Joan Nordell Fellowship. He won WIU’s 2015 Provost Award for Excellence in Internationalizing the Campus and the 2006 Ralph D. Gray Best Article Prize.
Roberts’s research focuses on U.S. and Atlantic history. His publications include Distant Revolutions: 1848 and the Challenge to American Exceptionalism (2009), American Exceptionalism (co-edited, 2012), and “The Infernal War”: The Civil War Letters of William and Jane Standard (2018). He has contributed to major journals and platforms, including the American Historical Review, Journal of American History, and Chronicle of Higher Education.
About the McDonough County Chapter of the NAACP
The McDonough County Branch of the NAACP is dedicated to advancing civil rights, fostering equity, and promoting social justice for all residents of McDonough County, Illinois. As part of the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization, the local branch works through advocacy, education, and community engagement to address issues of racial discrimination and inequality. With a strong commitment to collaboration, the McDonough County NAACP partners with local institutions, civic groups, and individuals to create a more inclusive and informed community.
About the Western Illinois Museum
The Western Illinois Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating and preserving the history, culture, and traditions of McDonough County. As a vibrant community hub, the museum features exhibits, an open collection area, lectures, music, and other public programs—all housed in a historic downtown Macomb building. It is located at 201 S. Lafayette Street, just one block south of the Courthouse Square.