Past Event: Cocktails & Culture: Songs of Freedom

Experience JOY as an act of resistance!  Join us for an unforgettable evening of music, poetry, food & drink - and hit exhibitions.

• Complimentary cocktail hour & tasting by HH Bespoke Spirits! (5:30 - 6:30pm)
• Groove to DJ LiKWUiD's signature fusion of Afrobeats, hip-hop, rare grooves, reggae, and house music -- with a live performance by trumpeter Nash Guillermo (outdoors)
• Poet Shanelle Gabriel hosts our monthly MC'NY Poets' Café and open mic 
• Browse the Artist Market and meet mutual aid organizers, presented by Harlem Pride and Uptown Laundry
• Pop-up café by The Monkey Cup, plus drinks available from the MCNY bar
• All exhibitions open late for viewing, including Analog City: NYC B.C. (just opened!); Activist New York; and New York, New Music, 1980-1986.

This program is part of the Museum's celebration of Freedom Week: A Journey into Art & Activism.

About DJ LiKWUiD:
Faybeo'n Mickens, aka DJ LiKWUiD, is a DJ, emcee, teaching artist and music professional who is committed to using her creativity to empower the voice of marginalized groups (especially womxn and lgbtqai communities); while utilizing music, art and social justice based artivism to reflect the times. iamlikwuid.com/

About Shanelle Gabriel:
Shanelle Gabriel is a poet, singer, and lupus warrior from Brooklyn  who has performed internationally including Africa and Europe. Widely known for featuring on HBO's Def Poetry Jam, she has shared the stage with artists such as Jill Scott, Nas, Nikki Giovanni, and more. She was listed as one of Blavity.com's "Artist Activists You Should Know" and one of "8 Millennial Feminist Poets That Deserve Recognition" by BET.com. Shanelle is also a health activist who has featured on the Lifetime Network about her continued battle with lupus. Presently, she is working on her third album while serving as the Interim Executive Director at Urban Word NYC, a youth organization that uses poetry & hip-hop to promote literacy and youth voice. 

About HH Bespoke Spirits:
HH Bespoke Spirits is an extension of the legendary custom-fashion design and styling company 5001 FLAVORS, creator of Harlem Haberdashery, the award-winning bespoke boutique in Central Harlem. HH Bespoke Spirits draws inspiration from the rich cultural history and distinctive style of the Harlem Renaissance. The spirit collection launched in 2018 to accolades from Black Enterprise, New York Amsterdam News, and The New York Times. In 2022, the family launched HH Bespoke Water.