New York City, New York Jun 24, 2026 (Issuewire.com) - Rita Daniels, the three‑times great‑niece of American hero Harriet Tubman, recently visited New York City as the featured guest for a special “Juneteenth & Black Music Month” production of New Music Wednesdays Live: The Next Up Experience. Filmed live at The Penthouse (617 West 46th Street), the program celebrates Tubman’s enduring legacy while exploring the powerful relationship between Black history, Black music, storytelling, education, and cultural preservation.
Co-hosted by legendary WBLS radio personality Lenny Green (The Quiet Storm), the event featured Daniels engaging in a poignant conversation examining how music, spirituals, and community leadership have shaped the African American experience from slavery through the modern era.
This monumental visit was facilitated by a dedicated coalition of "Community Partners" organized by Ajene Watson. The initiative was motivated, galvanized, and led by Reverend Reginal Lee Bachus, who served as the Presenting Community Partner and lead financial contributor for the Juneteenth segment. Joining Reverend Bachus in making this event possible were additional Community Partners: Nu Wall Street, Dot Hip Hop (.HipHop), Ajene Watson, CHASE Waters, AMFlow, WAC Partners, and Wall Street Bound.
During the live broadcast, host Chrys Childs asked Reverend Bachus about his passion for creating a modern "overground railroad" and his specific motivation for facilitating Daniels' New York appearance. Bachus drew a direct parallel to Tubman's legendary bias for action. "What inspired me about Harriet Tubman? While the church and others were praying, other people were organizing, others were lobbying for politicians to do that, somebody had to actually be moving people to freedom," Bachus explained. "I'm tired of going to social meetings and community meetings. It's like somebody got to actually start doing the work."
As part of her broader itinerary for the week and into Juneteenth weekend, Ms. Daniels also participated in several other activities. These included a Juneteenth breakfast event at JFK Airport, a visit to Harlem, an appearance on Morning Joe (MSNBC) where Reverend Al Sharpton joined the discussion, and book signings in Bridgeport, CT; courtesy of Bridgeport City Counsel (Denese Taylor-Moye and Jorge Cruz), as well as Senator Herron Gaston.
During her visit, Daniels highlighted her ongoing mission to correct the historical narrative through her co-authored book, Harriet Tubman: Military Scout and Tenacious Visionary. Troubled by textbook depictions that reduced Tubman to a "fugitive" or "thief," Daniels' book fills glaring historical gaps, expanding on Tubman’s multifaceted roles as a military scout, spy, and nurse, while sharing deeply personal stories of her ancestral roots in Ghana.
"I'm here to continue a legacy that if someone doesn't do it, it will end," Daniels said on New Music Wednesdays Live, emphasizing that Tubman’s mantra to "keep going" served as a personal lifeline for her own healing after surviving severe personal trauma in her youth.
Beyond literature, Daniels is actively combatting what she describes as "mental slavery" through youth education. Having founded the Harriet Tubman Learning Center, which operates in Georgia after originating in Auburn, New York, she focuses on providing crucial academic support, STEM, and robotics programs for struggling students. Aligning with Reverend Bachus's sentiments, Daniels also advocates for this modern "overground railroad" to support individuals facing current crises, urging communities to take responsibility for educating and uplifting the youth.
The historic New York visit was documented by New Music Wednesdays Live: The Next Up Experience; founded by DigiWaxx and its partners. The special Juneteenth segment will be made available through digital and television distribution channels, including YouTube, Hip Hop Tv and NewMusicWednesdaysLive.com.
Harriet Tubman: Military Scout and Tenacious Visionary is currently available for purchase in print and audiobook formats on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble. Autographed copies can be requested by contacting Daniels directly at Daniels.Rita09@gmail.com.
About New Music Wednesdays Live: The Next UP Experience
Founded by DigiWaxx and its partners, New Music Wednesdays Live: The Next Up Experience (NewMusicWednesdaysLive.com / NewMusicWednesdaysLive.hiphop), is a weekly live event and streaming platform that connects artists, media, DJs, cultural leaders, and audiences through interviews, performances, and community-centered conversations. Originating from DigiWaxx's New Music Wednesdays’ DJ Call, which reaches more than 25,000 DJs globally, the LIVE version of the platform serves as a bridge between music, media, culture, and community engagement.
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