Winyah Auditorium to host screening of Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom
June 8, 2026
Winyah Auditorium will present the critically acclaimed PBS documentary Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom on Friday, June 19, at 6:00 p.m. This special community screening will bring together community members, churches, educators, and families for an evening of storytelling, fellowship, and reflection.
Winyah Auditorium Executive Director Dedric Bonds and his wife, Joy, said they were inspired to bring the film to Georgetown after receiving an email from Our Daily Bread Ministries, which has made the documentary available to communities throughout the United States.
“For South Carolina, the Emancipation Proclamation had an immediate impact to free chattel slaves when President Abraham Lincoln issued it on January 1, 1863,” Bonds explained. “But it was another two-and-a-half years later when Texas officially received news notifying and freeing the last remaining enslaved population of the Confederacy.” 
Directed by award-winning filmmaker Ya’Ke Smith and hosted by pastor Rasool Berry, the film takes viewers on a riveting journey to Galveston, Texas, where the holiday originated, to uncover the deep Christian faith roots and biblical convictions tied to the first Juneteenth celebration. The documentary highlights how Scripture inspired the resilience of enslaved people and why newly liberated men and women credited God for their deliverance from the harsh realities of slavery.
“Ms. Opal Lee dedicated decades of her life to preserving the history of Juneteenth and advocating for national recognition of the holiday, which was signed into law in 2021,” Bonds added.
In addition to the film, the Gullah Museum will be on site with a special exhibit. A moderated panel discussion will immediately follow the 50-minute presentation, exploring the impact of Juneteenth, the African American experience, and the continued journey toward justice.
Admission is free, but Winyah Auditorium requests that attendees reserve seats through the auditorium’s ticket portal.
“Whether you are attending to learn, reflect, celebrate, or connect, we welcome you to share in this important evening of history, hope, and community,” Bonds said. “Freedom is a journey best remembered together.”
