We would like to congratulate the eight wonderful young women involved in the first-ever Miss Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant in Spokane. In a post for the Black Lens, Miss Juneteenth Planning Committee member Shamerica Nakamura writes that the program aims to “position young Black/African American women to embrace their unique identities, celebrate their heritage, and pursue higher education while fostering a strong sense of community and leadership.” Selected participants learn the history of Juneteenth and gain leadership, mentorship, and public speaking skills.
The Pageant took place on April 25th at Spokane Community College, and was a paragon of “unity, vision, and cultural pride.” Anesu Whacha of Shadle Park High School received the crown (pictured), with Mwajuma Ishibaleka (Lewis and Clark High School) and Daniella Musesambili (also of Shadle Park High School) were selected as 1st and 2nd Runner-Ups, respectively.
As an article in The Black Lens states, “Juneteenth is more than a date—it is a living symbol of out struggle, our resilience, and our shared pursuit of liberation. This theme echoes across communities and generations, reminding us that true freedom is a collective journey.”
Enormous congrats to all of the 2025 Miss Juneteenth Slate of Candidates:
- Anesu Whacha: Crowned Miss Juneteenth, Shadle Park High School
- Mwajuma Ishibaleka: 1st Runner Up, Lewis and Clark High School
- Daniella Musesambili: 2nd Runner Up, Shadle Park High School
- Makayla Roberson: Lewis and Clark High School
- Ovionna Williams: Lewis and Clark High School
- Genae Langford: Ferris High School
- Auda Muneza: North Central High School
- Mya Jefferson: West Valley High School
Continue your learning through these recommended reads and films! All accessible for free with your library card.
Films
- The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman
- Fences
- Hale County This Morning, This Evening
- Miss Juneteenth
- We Want the Funk!
Books
28 Days by Charles R. Smith Jr., illustrated by Shane W. Evans
A Flag for Juneteenth by Kim Taylor
Black Boy Joy by Kwame Mbalia
Black Liturgies by Cole Arthur Riley
Daughters of Jubilation by Kara Lee Corthron
Free at Last by Sojourner Kincaid Rolle, illustrated by Alex Bostic
Heart and Soul by Kadir Nelson
Juneteenth Is by Natasha Tripplett, illustrated by Daniel J. O’Brien
Juneteenth with Yasmin by Saadia Faruqi, illlustrated by Debby Rahmalia
Juneteenth by Kevin P. Winn with Kelisa Wing
The Juneteenth Alphabet by Andrea Underwood Petifer, illustrated by Ana Latese
Opal Lee and What it Means to Be Free by Alice Faye Duncan, art by Keturah A. Bobo
The Juneteenth Story by Alliah L. Agostini, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud
