🎙️ Episode 19

America 250: Juneteenth & the Obama Presidential Center | Reframing Independence

As America begins commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, it's worth asking a deeper question:

What does independence mean—and who was included in it?

In this episode of Our Truth, Our History, Our Story, Rita Coburn reflects on America's founding through the lens of African American history. From the symbolism of Juneteenth and the delayed freedom of June 19, 1865, to the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, Rita explores how our understanding of freedom continues to evolve.

Drawing on history, current events, and her own experiences attending the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, Rita challenges listeners to think beyond celebration and toward responsibility. She reminds us that history belongs to all of us—and that preserving it requires action.

This episode is an invitation to celebrate America's progress while embracing the fuller truth of our shared history and our ongoing work toward equality.

🔍 What You'll Hear in This Episode

• Why America's 250th anniversary deserves a broader historical perspective
• The relationship between July 4, 1776, and Juneteenth
• Why the Declaration of Independence was adopted before the Revolutionary War was won
• The significance of June 19, 1865, and General Order No. 3
• Reflections from the opening of the Obama Presidential Center
• Michelle Obama's message of dignity, hope, and leadership
• Why history must continually be reframed as new voices are included
• The role of Black historians, journalists, and storytellers in preserving truth
• Why supporting institutions like the NAACP and the Obama Presidential Center matters
• How reading, learning, and civic engagement become acts of freedom

🧠 Key Themes

• America 250
• Declaration of Independence
• Juneteenth
• July 4th
• Obama Presidential Center
• Barack Obama
• Michelle Obama
• Black history
• W.E.B. Du Bois
• NAACP
• Civic engagement
• Historical truth
• Democracy
• Hope
• Freedom
• Belonging

💬 A Defining Idea from This Episode

"We can celebrate America's independence while also telling the fuller truth about who was—and wasn't—free."

Understanding history isn't about diminishing the past. It's about expanding our understanding of it so that everyone can see themselves in the American story.

🇺🇸 Join the Conversation

As America marks its 250th anniversary, how are you choosing to celebrate?

What does freedom mean to you today?

How has learning more about Black history changed your understanding of America's story?

Share your thoughts in the comments or on social media using #OurTHS. History becomes richer when more voices are part of the conversation.

📣 Resources / Links

Watch THS episode https://youtu.be/eu5WXFg87FA 

Learn more about the Obama Presidential Center
https://www.obama.org/presidential-center/

Learn more about the NAACP
https://naacp.org

Watch: Stacey Abrams, Errin Haines, Tressie McMillan Cottom, and others discuss July 4, 2026, as a Declaration of Belonging https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ8dVYOCVCD/

Read the Declaration of Independence
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript

Learn more about Juneteenth
https://nmaahc.si.edu

Watch W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel with a Cause
https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/w-e-b-du-bois-documentary/34807/

Watch Our Truth, Our History, Our Story on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@ritacoburn9240

Listen to the podcast
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2598323/episodes

Transcript available here
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2598323

Stay connected with Rita Coburn
https://linktr.ee/ritacoburnmedia

Upcoming events and screenings
https://www.ritacoburn.com/upcoming-events

Download event photos
https://www.ritacoburn.com/event-photos

Social Media Toolkit
https://www.ritacoburn.com/social-media-tool-kit

📚 Suggested Reading

If this episode inspires you to explore America's history through a broader lens, here are a few books I recommend:

📚 The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story — Nikole Hannah-Jones

📚 The Souls of Black Folk — W.E.B. Du Bois

📚 Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul — Eddie S. Glaude Jr.

📚 Begin Again: James Baldwin's America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own — Eddie S. Glaude Jr.

📚 The Battle for the Black Mind — Karida L. Brown

📚 The New Brownies' Book: A Love Letter to Black Families — Charly Palmer & Karida L. Brown

Your local library is one of the best places to begin. Reading broadly and supporting Black authors, historians, and journalists is one of the most meaningful ways we can preserve, deepen, and share our understanding of history.

🎬 About the Series

Our Truth, Our History, Our Story (Our THS) explores the people, ideas, and cultural forces shaping Black history and storytelling. Hosted by award-winning filmmaker Rita Coburn, the series features conversations and reflections that connect our past to the present while inspiring a deeper understanding of our shared humanity.

👥 Production Credits

Host: Rita Coburn

Executive Producer: Andrew T. Carr

Producers: Christine Coburn Whack, H. Lee Whack

Produced by RCW Media Productions, Inc.

© 2026 RCW Media Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.