The historical and ongoing struggle for civil rights have been expressed through music in New Orleans. So it seems only right that music is the driving force behind several local Juneteenth commemorations.

A new documentary helps to explain the depth of contributions made by Henry Roeland Byrd, better known as Professor Longhair. “(People) hear his music all the time but they don’t recognize it,” his granddaughter Nadine Byrd said.

The night before Katrina made landfall, artist Lionel Milton, who grew up in the Lower 9th Ward, suddenly decided to evacuate, after he experienced what seemed to be an omen.