The Pea Island Preservation Society, Inc.  (PIPSI) is  pleased to announce that on June 19, 1921, at 5 pm, Tshombe Selby, a beloved native of Manteo, will help celebrate Juneteenth, the end of slavery in America, with a free outdoor concert, The Sounds of Freedom, at the Pea Island Cookhouse Museum at Collins Park. A tenor, who made his debut at Carnegie Hall and who now performs at the Metropolitan Opera House, Tshombe will use the front porch of the museum to sing spirituals and other songs to celebrate freedom The event is being held in collaboration with the Don and Catharine Bryan Cultural Series and with sponsor support. Please save the date and plan to come. 

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Texas was the last State that succeeded from the Union to free their slaves. On June 19, 1865 General Gordan Granger entered Galveston, TX and read General Order#3, "The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free". This was 2 1/2 years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and 2 months after the end of the Civil War. All slaves in the United States were finally free. The concert is being held to remind people of the significance of Juneteenth, a day the story of Richard Etheridge who grew up enslaved on Roanoke Island so tellingly reminds us of. Richard Etheridge, the nation’s first black Keeper in the US Life-Saving Service and the historic all-black lifesaving station he commanded, Station Pea Island, is a stark reminder of Juneteenth. The concert is also to encourage volunteers, membership, and financial support for our the Pea Island Preservation Society.  

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Limited seating but feel free to bring lawn chairs!