Leah & the Rabbit: Juneteenth Play at Vance Birthplace

Leah & the Rabbit: A Conversation Around Resiliency & Reclaiming Narratives

Vance Birthplace State Historic Site and the American Myth Center will partner for Juneteenth on June 18th to present an afternoon of historical drama and discussion on the appropriation of African American stories, resiliency among enslaved people, and the romanticized view of the plantation past.

This three-act piece begins with a tour of the 1790s slave dwelling including the contextualization of the stories of Brer Rabbit. Followed by the play, Leah & the Rabbit, that utilizes the historic tales to tell the story of Leah, an enslaved woman that lived on the Vance plantation, concluding with a discussion with Dr. Oralene Simmons on the play, the perpetuation of the Lost Cause mentality, and the reclaiming of our collective histories.

The program is free and will begin on June 18th at 1:00 pm and run approximately an hour and a half. Space is limited and registration is encouraged. This is an outdoor program. Some chairs are available but participants are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets. Donations welcome!