Juneteenth Part 1 - Maroon Societies and Black Seminoles

Juneteenth marks a turning point in American history—the day in 1865 when freedom finally reached the last enslaved people in Texas. But long before that, liberation was being claimed by those who resisted slavery on their own terms, forging hidden paths and building independent communities. This Juneteenth, WorldBeat Cultural Center honors the powerful legacy of Maroon societies, especially the Black Seminoles, the Mascogos of Mexico, and their courageous leader John Horse.

We are honored to welcome Micco/Chief Thomi Perryman as our keynote speaker. A hereditary chief of the United Warrior Band of the Seminole Nation/John Horse Band and founder of the Warren Perryman Foundation for Native American Research, Chief Perryman has spent decades preserving the legacy of Black Seminoles—descendants of Africans who fled slavery and found refuge with Seminole Indians in Florida. Their journey spanned multiple forced migrations through Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, and eventually into Mexico, where they became known as the Mascogos.

Their story is one of survival, sovereignty, and cultural resilience—hallmarks of Maroon societies across the Americas. At the center stands John Horse (Juan Caballo), a warrior, negotiator, and visionary who fought for freedom across borders, leading his people through war and into self-determined exile.

Join us on Thursday, June 19th from 5PM to 8PM for an evening of remembrance, storytelling, and celebration.

🗓️ Event Schedule
5:00 PM – Meet & Greet with Chief Thomi Perryman
Live performance by Ibrahima Ba
6:00 PM – Keynote presentation on the Black Seminoles, Maroon resistance, and the legacy of John Horse
7:00 PM – Community gathering and reflection