There’s something magical about music. It brings people together. And our exhibit, “And the Beat Don’t Stop: 50 Years of Hip-Hop” is certainly offering visitors to Mosaic Templars Cultural Center a gathering point where the solid beats of this musical genre resonate. Boom. Boom-boom. Boom. The emcee can be heard hitting the beat with a staccato of rapid-fire words telling a story that most often details the African American experience. From the fun to the fierce, this is a story that needs to be told. 

 
 Our hip-hop exhibit runs now to July 1 which means it not only intersects with MTCC’s annual Juneteenth event but is the inspiration for this year’s Juneteenth in da Rock. MTCC Director Quantia “Key” Fletcher, embarking on her 13th Juneteenth at the museum, tells us how to get the most out of Juneteenth this year starting with a great piece of advice, “Be sure to wear your comfortable walking shoes and be prepared to stay for a while. The vibe is chill and community-focused like that people won’t want to leave.”  
 
Start the day by lacing up your sneakers (custom or otherwise) for our inaugural 5K race in Little Rock. This is a chip timed race being coordinated in partnership with the Little Rock Marathon on a route that will take participants through some of Little Rock’s most historic African American neighborhoods, including past Central High School and through the campus of Philander Smith College.  
 
“We wanted to do something fun and different,” said Fletcher, who is a fitness instructor on the side. “We’re intentional about making sure the spirit of Black excellence and achievement is at the core of our work. Having our race route through historic Black sites within the community was important for us. Pulling all these new elements together, we are hopeful this will allow us to celebrate and allow us to reach outside of our usual audiences.”   
 
The race is set to start at 8 a.m. and pre-registration is required (and there are some nice bonus features this year, including a t-shirt and, just announced, a free commemorative poster for the first 100 participants). The race medals also promise to be something you’ll be proud to show off. We cannot wait to share those with you! And if you’re not a runner/walker and want to cheer folks along, we welcome folks to line the route to make some noise.

RACE REGISTRATION HERE.  

Now, getting back to the beats, music has long been a key part of MTCC’s free Juneteenth activities. In addition to local artists, guests will enjoy this year’s headliner, MC Lyte, an actress, rapper and DJ. MC Lyte was most recently seen in “New York Undercover,” “S.W.A.T.,” “Power” and “Queen of the South.” She is the CEO of Sunni Gyrl, Inc., an entertainment management and production company. MC Lyte is also an author, motivational speaker and philanthropist. Her charity, Hip-Hop Sisters Foundation, has given over $1,000,000 in scholarships.  
 
“MC Lyte is an American icon,” Fletcher said. “When we think of honoring our history of excellence and paving the way she is such a genius and true trailblazer in her own right. She kicked down doors in the music industry becoming the first female solo rapper to be nominated for a Grammy, first to receive a gold single and the first rap artist to perform at New York’s historic Carnegie Hall. She’s such a perfect complement to our hip-hop exhibition that’s on display currently at the museum.”  
 
Things are sure to heat up when you’re dancing to the beat so don’t forget you can cool off with a tour of our museum, including “And the Beat Don’t Stop: 50 Years of Hip-Hop” and bring the kiddos because Juneteenth in da Rock is family-friendly. Spend some time at our Kid Zone and inside The Hall, 721 W 9th St. where guests will enjoy the MTCC Education Station complete with displays to learn about the history of Juneteenth and experience interactive hands-on fun. 
 
Fletcher also reminds us to bring your coins because there will be amazing vendors on site, from food items to t-shirts and jewelry. “I love seeing the variety of options and the Black business owners,” said Fletcher about the vendors who will set up along Ninth St., formerly a Black business district. “To see the spaces that once held Black business now filled with new entrepreneurs young and old with thousands of items and dreams of success is powerful and amazing. The fact that we get to create and hold space in the very foundation of the community that held space for us and to keep the history alive means so much to me and my team.”  
 
Those interested in participating as a vendor should reach out to Brian Rodgers, Community Liaison, at [email protected] or 501-683-3636 or visit the MTCC Juneteenth website at JuneteenthLittleRock.com. 

MTCC receives support in production of Juneteenth from the Friends of the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, a non-profit that supports the museum through fundraising efforts. Additional support comes in part from the Arkansas Arts Council, Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council, Arkansas Medical Dental and Pharmaceutical Association, Let’s Do Launch and US Bank. Juneteenth became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, and marks the day the last enslaved people were freed in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.