2025 Juneteenth preview
Juneteenth is a federal holiday that commemorates the Emancipation Proclamation for enslaved people in the U.S. The holiday was first celebrated in Texas back in 1865 when enslaved people were declared free.
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The event will feature live music, arts and crafts, free food such as soul food, and plenty more. The president of the NAACP said this event welcomes all types to come celebrate the African American community.
'What to expect is just coming in ready to celebrate,' said Monique Scarlett, the president of the Sioux City NAACP. 'Community means everyone, so it doesn't matter what color you are, what religious background you have, whether you're male, female, it does not matter. We are coming together to celebrate as a community.'
The celebration will kick off on June 19th from 5 to 8 P.M. at the Sioux City Public Library.
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Forbes
18 hours ago
- Forbes
Miami Swim Week 2025: What Designers And Models Really Think Of The Shows
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Organized by founder Moh Ducis, the event highlighted bold showcases and brand activations, including the Australian Gold Bunga-GLOW Lounge. Watch Full Interview With Swimwear Designers Here The week featured standout showcases from Liberty & Justice, Autty Simone, Lemango, Luxe Living Fashions, Clarisse Céleste, Ettis Swim, AQUA INTIMA, Zoe's African Fashion, Maison Hadascha, Sol Y Luna, Naava Swim, Atelier Martinez, Nur Karaata, Bambu Brazil, Tempt Me, Relleciga, Normal Culture, Hera Sea, Flavia Palmiero, IA VISION, Ángel de la Guarda, Mars The Label, Swimwear, Yonique, Holipick, Baiah, Lila Nikole, Ivoire Swim, Alma Delgado x Anaia Swimwear, The Pink Portal, and Lovelit Couture. Designing with Purpose MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - MAY 31: Model Terra Johnswalks the runway wearing Everlast® x Merc Swim ... More during Miami Swim Week: The Shows on May 31, 2025 in Miami Beach, Miami Swim Week: The Shows) For Jasmine Mercedes, founder of Merc Swim, the Everlast-sponsored showcase was more than a design opportunity—it was a dream come true. Inspired by Muhammad Ali's legendary robes and the aesthetics of the Creed film series, Mercedes brought boxing-inspired femininity to the beach. 'You don't see a lot of women of color at Miami Swim Week,' she said. 'To be chosen, to actually be here as a designer and not just a spectator—it means everything. Being on this stage—showcasing not just talent but culture.' Mercedes wasn't alone in spotlighting inclusion. Melissa Odabash, a fashion industry veteran celebrating 25 years in the business, leaned into global femininity with her Amalfi Coast–inspired collection. Her runway featured women of all shapes and sizes. MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - MAY 30: A model walks the runway at the Melissa Odabash Show during Miami ... More Swim Week at The Bass on May 30, 2025 in Miami Beach, Melissa Odabash 'All women's shapes are beautiful. I want women to enjoy their holidays and not be self-conscious in their bikinis,' she shared. 'I sell in over 70 countries, and my philosophy has always been the same—every woman, every body, should feel confident. That's what my collections are built for." Diversity as the Design Principle Jaylamena Lanier, founder of Normal Culture, has modeled since she was 12—but now she's rewriting the rules. 'As a Black woman in fashion, I've witnessed the lack of opportunity firsthand. My brand is about reversing that. This year's line was inspired by luxury tones like powder blue and butter yellow, with silhouettes for all—from full coverage to bold cutouts.' MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - MAY 30: A model walks the runway wearing Normal Culture during Miami Swim ... More Week: The Shows on May 30, 2025 in Miami Beach, Miami Swim Week: The Shows "It's about creating for every woman. Whether she's a mom, a model, or shopping for her daughter—we deserve fashion that sees us." Brazilian designer Etila Santiago also brought culture to the forefront with Ettis Swim. Her signature? Small bikinis with bold energy. MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - MAY 29: Models walk the runway wearing Ettis Swim during Miami Swim Week: The ... More Shows on May 29, 2025 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo byfor Miami Swim Week: The Shows)for Miami Swim Week: The Shows) "In Brazil, we celebrate the body, so I wanted to bring that joy here—with vibrant colors and tiny cuts that empower," she added. 'Because every woman deserves to feel special in swimwear.' Designing Identity: From Mythology to Heritage Lala, founder of Luxe Living Fashions, turned to Greek mythology for inspiration. Pearls, embellished veils, and goddess silhouettes brought high fantasy to the catwalk. MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - MAY 29: Model Laquishia walks the runway wearing Luxe Living Fashions during ... More Miami Swim Week: The Shows on May 29, 2025 in Miami Beach, Miami Swim Week: The Shows) 'Women are goddesses—period. My pieces are designed to reflect our power and luxury. Miami Swim Week was our temple,' Lala proudly exclaimed. Hadasha Vonley of Maison Hadasha used her platform to pay homage to her Haitian roots. Her collection featured sunset hues, flowing silhouettes, and models of all shades. MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - MAY 29: A model walks the runway wearing Maison Hadascha during Miami Swim ... More Week: The Shows on May 29, 2025 in Miami Beach, Miami Swim Week: The Shows) "Black women deserve to be seen and celebrated on global runways. My collection isn't just about clothes—it's about visibility, power, and legacy. A woman is already confident, sexy, and gorgeous,' she said. 'My designs are simply an elevation of that.' Meanwhile, Autty Simone delivered a nostalgic take on early 2000s style. 'I wanted to bring back that early 2000s energy—raw, real, and nostalgic. Every piece I designed came from a place of memory, of moments we all lived through. It's not about perfection—it's about presence,' Simone shared. MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - MAY 29: A model walks the runway wearing Autty Simone during Miami Swim Week: ... More The Shows on May 29, 2025 in Miami Beach, Miami Swim Week: The Shows) Purpose-Driven Fashion with a Sustainable Edge Designers from EKaye Collection and Flauuhs merged fashion and function with a collaborative runway moment that prioritized conscious design and unapologetic glamour. MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - MAY 30: Model Kaye Cox walks the runway wearing E Kaye Collection during ... More Miami Swim Week: The Shows on May 30, 2025 in Miami Beach, Miami Swim Week: The Shows) 'This collection was about repurposing—breathing new life into deadstock fabrics and letting creativity lead,' said EKay. 'Diversity, for us, starts from within. It's about turning what's overlooked into something powerful.' 'And the shoes had to match that energy,' added Trina Flauuhs. 'I designed stilettos that love your feet—comfortable, sexy and made for women who walk with purpose.' What the Models Saw At Swim Week But perhaps the most honest reflections came from the models. Terra Johns, Kaye Cox, and Allison Wuest recalled being among the only women of color in certain rooms. "There were just three of us," said Cox. "We added the flavor, the texture. But we need more." MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - MAY 29: Model Terra Johns walks the runway wearing Montage Swimwear during ... More Miami Swim Week: The Shows on May 29, 2025 in Miami Beach, Miami Swim Week: The Shows) They all echoed a shared truth: representation on the runway still has a long way to go. Chirstin Zhane, who lost over 100 pounds before entering modeling, shared: "Being curvy, being brown—you didn't see that on runways growing up. To walk here now is not just personal, it's progress." Watch Full Interview With The Models & Photographers Here For Deja Lighty, the moment was emotional. "This is my dream. I kept pushing, and seeing women with afros and natural hair walk proudly—it shows other girls that they belong here, too." MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - MAY 30: Model Deja Lighty walks the runway at the Melissa Odabash Show during ... More Miami Swim Week at The Bass on May 30, 2025 in Miami Beach, Melissa Odabash Models Mystique, Genesis Infante, and KP stressed the emotional impact of seeing women of color, with afros and natural hair, walk proudly—unfiltered and untouched by unrealistic beauty standards. MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - MAY 30: Model Mystique walks the runway wearing Normal Culture during Miami ... More Swim Week: The Shows on May 30, 2025 in Miami Beach, Miami Swim Week: The Shows) 'We bring something different to the runway—our features, our hair, our bodies are all beautifully unique,' said Mystique. 'I show up for the Afro-Latinas—for all of us,' Infante added. MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - MAY 30: Model KP walks the runway wearing Normal Culture during Miami Swim ... More Week: The Shows on May 30, 2025 in Miami Beach, Miami Swim Week: The Shows) Beyond the Runway: Retail and Storytelling Among the standout voices amplifying diverse fashion was Daniela Licata, co-founder of Curio Vibe, a retail platform curating over 300 brands from around the world. Her boutique, based at Faena Bazaar and in Bridgehampton, is rooted in international craftsmanship and individuality. "Swimwear in Miami isn't just trend—it's culture," Cotta explained. "We focus on elevated fabrics, global influences, and unique pieces you won't see anywhere else. Swim Week is a reflection of that diversity." Licata believes that fashion should feel personal—and discovering independent designers from Latin America, Europe, and beyond is part of the thrill. "Our clients love knowing no one else will have what they're wearing. That's luxury to us." Behind the Lens It wasn't just models making the magic. Creatives like Albert Hilt, Anthony Collins, and Wilson Photos brought the visual storytelling to life. Miami-based videographer Collins expressed, 'Diversity means showing what the real world looks like,' said Collins. 'Miami is a fashion city now—and we're showing the world why.' MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - JUNE 01: A model walks the runway wearing Lila Nikole during Miami Swim Week: ... More The Shows on June 01, 2025 in Miami Beach, Miami Swim Week: The Shows) Photographer Wilson Photos summed it up: "I saw beauty from every corner of the world this week—and I got to document it. That's what this is about." Hilt chimed in, adding, 'To me, diversity means you can come from anywhere and still create something meaningful. I came from a place with no color—now I get to paint my life on a canvas and make something of it,' Final Thoughts MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - MAY 30: Model Ayinde Warren walks the runway wearing Normal Culture during ... More Miami Swim Week: The Shows on May 30, 2025 in Miami Beach, Miami Swim Week: The Shows) At Miami Swim Week 2025, diversity wasn't a marketing checkbox—it was the story. Whether through vibrant design, raw testimonials, or cultural pride, every voice added something vital to the evolving definition of beauty. As designer Julia Marie Chu put it: 'I don't just design for one body. I want everyone to enjoy what I create—everyone.' The message was clear: cultural connectivity is becoming the new standard at Miami Swim Week.


Axios
2 days ago
- Axios
Museum of African American History uses AI to share Black history
The Museum of African American History is using AI to share the stories of iconic Black Bostonians. Why it matters: The museum is expanding its use of AI beyond its Frederick Douglass hologram in hopes of bringing new life to the museum's artifacts — and thus to the telling of African American history in Massachusetts. State of play: The "Black Voices of the Revolution" exhibit opened Tuesday in the Abiel Smith School with two interactive, AI-based displays. One lets visitors hear from historic Black women, including Elizabeth Freeman, one of the first enslaved people to successfully sue for their freedom in Massachusetts. The other lets visitors interview the museum's collection of primary sources, pulling details from the collection to answer questions and prompts like a chatbot. What they're saying: The exhibit "is an opportunity for us to tell a unique story of the American Revolution from the African American perspective," Noelle Trent, the museum's president and CEO, tells Axios. Trent says the partnership with TimeLooper has enabled the museum to use AI in an ethical manner to share these stories. Zoom in: The exhibit examines six topics, ranging from slavery to relationships with indigenous people to Black print culture, per a press release. The exhibit not only shares African American perspectives around the American Revolution, but also highlights other issues African Americans faced at the time, whether as enslaved people or freed communities. If you go: The museum is open the rest of the week, including July Fourth.


New York Times
3 days ago
- New York Times
Quilting Gathering Brings a New Tradition to a Classic Form
Laughter mixed with the steady hum of sewing machines as Candace Thomas addressed a room full of quilters inside the Durham Convention Center in Durham, N.C. Hot irons resided at the front and back of the room to keep a rainbow's worth of fabrics flattened and at the ready. 'You want to get a length of fabric that's about a half-inch wide,' Thomas instructed. 'You can make a tube, turn it inside out, roll your edges like you would do a purse strap. Whatever shape you like.' The couple dozen women eyed Thomas's instructions as they refined their altar boxes, decorated containers roughly the size of a shoe box that can hold a doll or special memory. One of Thomas's boxes contained a copy of a poem her mother penned in 1948. 'It's like teaching a cooking class for family,' said Thomas, who started quilting as a high school student in California after watching her aunt sew. Thomas taught over Juneteenth weekend at the Kindred Spirits Quilting Conference, which brought together African American quilters from across the South. Kimberley Pierce Cartwright, a longtime member of the African American Quilt Circle of Durham, was the one who conceived of the idea for the three-day conference, which featured workshops like the one Thomas headed and a pop-up quilt show where spectators could admire and purchase quilts. The first conference was held in 2023; after this second edition, Pierce Cartwright plans to make it an annual event around each Juneteenth. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.