a
M

Close

Black Joy Is Resistance: A Playlist For Juneteenth

by | Jun 19, 2020 | MUSIC

In celebration of Juneteenth, Richmond musician extraordinaire and all-around renaissance man Reggie Pace presents a collection of joyful Black American music offering everyone “a moment to breathe.”

Happy Juneteenth everybody!!!

This playlist is a moment to breathe. The history of Black America was recorded through music and art. It amazes me that in every era of music, no matter the circumstances, we can find examples of joy. I will keep Breonna Taylor in my heart today as I take a moment to reflect and breathe.

It’s just a moment.
The fight for equality continues.

This list covers decades and decades of Black Music that I love.
It’s a Juneteenth Celebration! Take a moment to breathe! Power to the People.

-Pace
#BLM

Photo: “Black Is Beautiful” art installation, Chamberlayne Ave & Jackson St, Jackson Ward, Richmond VA. Courtesy Ricky & Whitney Parker/Dream For Purpose

Reggie Pace

Reggie Pace

Reggie Pace host of the PACECAST and co-Founder of Richmond’s own NO BS! Brass, a high-octane Brass explosion that's played festivals all over The United States, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Canada, Italy, Croatia, Hungary, and Belgium. Pace is a member of the Hustle Season Podcast, and you can catch him in town playing with Piranha Rama, Night Idea, The Big Payback, Mikrowaves and Brunswick. He has toured the world with Bon Iver, during which they won a Grammy for "Best New Artist." He has also played music in beautiful venues such as Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, The Sydney Opera House, O2 Arena in Dublin, Wembley in London, Coachella, Bonnaroo, and the New Orleans Jazz Festival. His television appearances include Saturday Night Live, Ellen, Jimmy Fallon, David Letterman, Stephen Colbert, Austin City Limits, Jools Holland and Seth Meyers.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE RVAMAG NEWSLETTER




more in music

Fourth of July 2026 in Richmond: Fireworks, Festivals, and More

The best Fourth of July celebration in Richmond probably isn't the one with the biggest fireworks. It's the one where someone forgot the hot dog buns, the cooler is running low on ice, kids are chasing each other through sprinklers, and somebody insists they know a...

IllumiNATION Tells America’s Story on a Monumental Scale

Editor’s Note: RVA Magazine is partnering with the Virginia Museum of History & Culture on coverage related to America’s 250th anniversary, including Richmond SailFest and IllumiNation. It's hard to impress people with just a building. Yet standing in front of the...

Blöthar: “GWAR Didn’t Change. The World Freakin Changed.”

Richmond metal band GWAR says the Secret Service contacted the group following a recent performance at the Vans Warped Tour in Washington, D.C., that featured the mock execution of a Donald Trump effigy. Video of the performance, which showed band members...

Kelli Strawbridge Re-Releases Kings And Returns To The Camel

Ten years ago, Richmond drummer, bandleader, and all-around musical utility player Kelli Strawbridge released Kings, a collaborative soul and funk record built alongside producer and keyboardist DJ Harrison of Butcher Brown. The album arrived at a moment when...

The Last Ride of The Golden Pony

Every good music scene has a few rooms that become bigger than themselves. They rarely make headlines while they're open, but their importance becomes obvious when they disappear. For Harrisonburg, The Golden Pony was one of those places. After eleven years of hosting...

Stay Hungry pt. 1 | Band on the Road

Editor's Note: Writer's Block is a space for Virginia writers to share personal essays, fiction, memoir, and works that fall somewhere in between. In Stay Hungry, Richmond local Eric Kalata looks back on a cross-country tour and the restless optimism of...

Topics: Black Joy Is Resistance, Breonna Taylor, Juneteenth, Reggie Pace, Weekend Playlist

TO THE RVA MAG YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR THE LATEST VIDEOS