JOEY BADA$$ JOINS LINE-UP OF BLACK & NATIVE ARTISTS AND ORGANIZERS RECLAIMING AND REFRAMING “AMERICA AT 250”

BLIS (Black Liberation–Indigenous Sovereignty) Collective Responds to America's 250th Anniversary with Immersive Art, Performance, and Movement-Building Event Expected to Draw Up to 1,000 Attendees

Event Features 40–50 Artists, Organizers, and Cultural Leaders Across Three Experiential Zones; Mato Wayuhi, Rebecca Nagle, Rev. Jacqui Lewis, and Others Also Confirmed

NEW YORK (Lenapehoking), April 21, 2026 – On Saturday, June 20, 2026, the BLIS (Black Liberation Indigenous Sovereignty) Collective will host "Reclamation Day: A Reunion of Hope" – a large-scale, immersive cultural gathering in Brooklyn, New York designed as a direct and urgent response to the United States' 250th anniversary. Award-winning artist, actor, and Brooklyn native Joey Bada$$ will headline the event with a closing performance.

As the Trump administration invests heavily in a narrative of American nationalism, Reclamation Day asks a different question: What would it look like to tell the truth about this country's history — and build from there?

“Reclamation Day” will bring together 40–50 artists, organizers, and cultural leaders guiding an expected 700–1,000 participants through three experiential zones: Reclaim, Repair, and Reimagine. The event is designed not as a traditional conference or protest, but as a self-directed, immersive experience blending art, performance, and movement-building.

Notably, “Reclamation Day” will feature a closing performance by award-winning artist, actor, and Brooklyn native, Joey Bada$$, who said this on why he’s taking part:

“A big part of being an artist is holding up the mirror for society to see itself. I’ve always seen my music and platform as a tool to promote social and political consciousness and bring light to urgent issues directly impacting Black and other marginalized people. Thanks to the BLIS (Black Liberation Indigenous Sovereignty) Collective and all the artists and organizers who are working tirelessly to reclaim America’s real history and legacy, and creating a better future for all of us.”

"As those in power attempt to erase and sanitize the violent truths of this nation's history, Reclamation Day stands to confront and counter that," said BLIS Co-founder and Executive Director Trevor Smith. "It takes courage to reckon with our past, and without that courage, there is no path to a just future. We must name, without apology, what has happened in this country, what it has produced, and what it now demands of us — truth-telling, repair, and a transformation rooted in solidarity. If the next 250 years are to be different from the last, it will be because we had the courage to build something new."

Key event highlights include: Closing performance by Joey Bada$$, Brooklyn-born rapper and actor, preceded by an opening set from Mato Wayuhi, a rising Native American artist and BLIS Collective member Opening remarks from President Shannon Holsey (Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians), Rev. Jacqui Lewis (Middle Church), and Nkechi Taifa (Reparations Education Project) An AR monument by Kinfolk Tech reimagining New York's public landscape An immersive installation from journalist and podcaster Rebecca Nagle, tied to her latest work A "Social Dream Space" facilitated by Intelligent Mischief Participatory mural work by Layqa Nuna Yawar and installations on reparations, Land Back, and the carceral system Short films and conversations exploring repair, land, and liberatory futures DJs and curators including Soul Sugar, BRIDGE, and Roselle Brand activation by LUSH Cosmetics Speakers including Linda Tigani, Executive Director of the NYC Commission on Racial Equity, and graphic artist Mer Young Additional participating collaborators include Jeremy Dennis, For Freedoms, Dana Davenport, Sky Walker, the Why We Can't Wait Campaign, and 1-800-Dial-An-Ancestor.

More than an event, Reclamation Day is an experiment in how culture can shift public memory, deepen solidarity, and move people from reflection into participation. The gathering will bring together artists, organizations, city officials, researchers, and everyday people choosing to tell a truer story of this country — and to celebrate the resilience of Black, Native, and working-class people who have strived to make it better.

"Long before the United States marked 250 years, our nations have existed, governed, and stewarded these lands," said BLIS Co-founder and Deputy Director Savannah Romero. "As this country celebrates its anniversary, we must tell the fuller truth — that the United States is just one nation among hundreds of other nations, and must honor the treaties that were meant to define that relationship. Reclamation Day is a space to center this reality and declare that Tribal sovereignty must be respected and upheld over the next 250 years."

Registration for the event is available here. Members of the press interested in covering, previewing, or attending the event are encouraged to contact Human Impact Solutions at press@humanimpactsolutions.com to request credentials, arrange interviews, or receive additional information.

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