CNN
Celebrating Juneteenth as a federal holiday is a combination of solemn moments and all-out parties – featuring multiple generations of music superstars – to mark the occasion.
The biggest party was on Sunday at the Hollywood Bowl where Shaka KhanEarth, Air and Fire, Khalid, Billy Porter and many more took to the stage and got the sold-out crowd on their collective feet.
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The event concert – “Juneteenth: A Global Celebration of Freedom” – was broadcast live on CNN, and Chaka’s performance was particularly lively, supported by The Roots, she sang her hits “Ain’t Nobody” and “I ‘m Every Woman”…while EWF and Bell Biv Devoe also played crowd favorites “Groove Tonight” and “Poison.”
CNN
President Biden and Vice President Harris recorded messages to address the Hollywood Bowl audience … and called the holiday “a time to celebrate, a time to educate and a time to act.”
Meanwhile, the activist who fought for years to get June 19 federal holiday status also marked the day.
95 years old Opal Lee completed a 2.5 mile march in Fort Worth – symbolizing the 2.5 years it took enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas to learn that President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
It happened on June 19, 1865…hence the name of the holiday, Juneteenth. Although it has long been unofficially recognized — especially in the black community — it only became a federal holiday last year.
Opal’s suggestion for all Americans to recognize the holiday – “I advocate that we celebrate June 19 through July 4. That would be celebrating freedom.”
Sounds good to us.
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