Showing posts with label Juneteenth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Juneteenth. Show all posts

Friday, June 09, 2023

National Civil Rights Museum celebrates Juneteenth with a free Community Day

The National Civil Rights Museum is celebrating the Juneteenth holiday on June 19 as a Community Day with free museum admission and museum Member Appreciation Day. 

This is the second year Juneteenth is observed as a federal holiday, and the museum welcomes all visitors to learn more about the origins and importance fo the holiday and the stories of hard-fought freedom since its origin. 

Juneteenth dates back to June 19, 1865, when Union soldier, Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with the news that the American Civil War had ended and the enslaved were now free. This announcement was more than two and half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This population of Black Texans were denied their freedom since January 1, 1863.

The museum’s Juneteenth Community Day will allow everyone free admission to explore this American history that illustrates the resilience and contributions of Black Americans despite access to basic freedoms and equality.  The goal is to focus on the continued struggle for civil and human rights that guarantee fundamental freedoms and to raise the consciousness of systemic racism with the desired outcome to reform race relations throughout our communities.

The free Juneteenth Community Day admission is on a first-come basis and there is no advance reservation.  Members will enjoy special benefits including expressed entry, a member gift, a museum store discount, and refreshments.

The Juneteenth Community Day is made possible by Ford Motor Company Fund. For more information, visit civilrightsmuseum.org.

 

About the National Civil Rights Museum

The NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM, located at the historic Lorraine Motel where civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, gives a comprehensive overview of the American Civil Rights Movement from slavery to the present. Since the Museum opened in 1991, millions of visitors from around the world have come, including more than 90,000 student visits annually. The Museum is steadfast in its mission to chronicle the American civil rights movement and tell the story of the ongoing struggle for human rights.  It educates and serves as a catalyst to inspire action to create positive social change. 

The Museum is recognized as a 2019 National Medal Award recipient by the Institute of Museums and Library Services (IMLS), the top national honor for museums and libraries.  It is a TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Top 5% U.S. Museum, USA Today's Top 10 Best American Iconic Attractions; Top 10 Best Historical Spots in the U.S. by TLC's Family Travel; Must See by the Age of 15 by Budget Travel and Kids; Top 10, American Treasures by USA Today; and Best Memphis Attraction by The Commercial Appeal and the Memphis Business Journal.

 

– civilrightsmuseum.org –

Monday, June 20, 2022

Vice Pesident Kamala Harris surprises kids at the National African-American Museum on Juneteenth

Vice President Kamala Harris marked the Juneteenth federal holiday with a visit to the National Museum of African American History & Culture where she surprised and spoke to a group of school-aged children.

Sunday, June 19, 2022

Don't let Juneteenth be just another day off

By George L. Cook III African American Reports

Juneteenth marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end of slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday.

Juneteenth is now a federal holiday and it's being recognized by more companies and states every year. Juneteenth is also being quickly commercialized as we saw with Walmart's Juneteenth ice cream fiasco and is in danger of just becoming another day off.

Cookouts and Juneteenth ceremonies will be everywhere this weekend, and that's okay. But let's not lose the meaning behind the holiday.

Juneteenth is a holiday that celebrates freedom which is why it's also known as Freedom Day and Liberation Day among other names. The Juneteenth weekend is time to reflect on what the Emancipation Proclamation did and didn't do for freed slaves. It's also a day to also reflect on the 13th Amendment which also in some ways kept certain forms of slavery legal.

It's also a day to question if even now in the 21st Century whether Black Americans are truly free. A legitimate question as voting rights, police reform, income inequality, and quality education and housing are still issues long after the slaves were "freed".

So enjoy the holiday but just remember it's a lot more than cookouts and Red Velvet Cake.

Happy Juneteenth.

George L. Cook III African American Reports.

Friday, June 17, 2022

President Biden Proclamation on Juneteenth Day of Observance, 2022

After the Union Army captured New Orleans in 1862, slave owners in Confederate states migrated to Texas with more than 150,000 enslaved Black persons.  For 3 years, even after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, enslaved Black Americans in Texas remained in brutal bondage, immorally and illegally deprived of their freedom and basic dignity.  On June 19, 1865 — over 2 years after President Lincoln declared all enslaved persons free — Major General Gordon Granger and Union Army troops marched to Galveston, Texas, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation and free the last enslaved Black Americans in Texas. 

     Those who were freed from bondage celebrated their long-overdue emancipation on June 19.  Today, our Nation commemorates Juneteenth:  a chance to celebrate human freedom, reflect on the grievous and ongoing legacy of slavery, and rededicate ourselves to rooting out the systemic racism that continues to plague our society as we strive to deliver the full promise of America to every American.

     This Juneteenth, we are freshly reminded that the poisonous ideology of racism has not yet been defeated — it only hides.  Our Nation continues to mourn the 10 lives senselessly taken in Buffalo, New York, and grieve for the families who have lost a piece of their soul.  As we confront the awful reality of yet another gunman massacring innocent people in the name of hatred, racism, and fear, we must meet this moment with renewed resolve.  We must stand together against white supremacy and show that bigotry and hate have no safe harbor in America. 

      Juneteenth is a day to reflect on both bondage and freedom — a day of both pain and purpose.  It is, in equal measure, a remembrance of both the long, hard night of slavery and subjugation, as well as a celebration of the promise of a brighter morning to come.  On Juneteenth, we remember our extraordinary capacity to heal, to hope, and to emerge from our worst moments as a stronger, freer, and more just Nation.  It is also a day to celebrate the power and resilience of Black Americans, who have endured generations of oppression in the ongoing journey toward equal justice, equal dignity, equal rights, and equal opportunity in America.

     Last year, I was proud to sign bipartisan legislation establishing Juneteenth as our newest Federal holiday, so that all Americans can feel the power of this day, learn from our history, celebrate our progress, and recognize and engage in the work that continues.  Great nations do not ignore their most painful moments — they face them.  We grow stronger as a country when we honestly confront our past injustices, including the profound suffering and injustice wrought by slavery and generations of segregation and discrimination against Black Americans.  To heal, we must remember.  We must never rest until the promise of our Nation is made real for all Americans.

     The emancipation of enslaved Black Americans was not the end of our Nation’s work to deliver on the promise of equality — it was only the beginning.  On Juneteenth, we recommit to our shared work to ensure racial justice, equity, and equality in America.  We commemorate the centuries of struggle and progress led by abolitionists, educators, civil rights advocates, lawyers, activists, trade unionists, religious leaders, public officials, and everyday Americans who have brought our Nation closer to fulfilling its promise. 

     As my good friend, the late Congressman Elijah Cummings, said, “Our children are the living messengers we send to a future we will never see.”  Together as a Nation, let us continue our work together to build a country we are all proud to pass along to our children — one where the foundational promises and ideals of America ring true for every child and every family.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 19, 2022, as Juneteenth Day of Observance.  I call upon the people of the United States to acknowledge and condemn the history of slavery in our Nation and recognize how the impact of America’s original sin remains.  I call on every American to celebrate the emancipation of all Black Americans and commit together to eradicate systemic racism and inequity that can never be tolerated and must always be fought against.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-sixth. 

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR. 

Thursday, June 16, 2022

CNN to air Juneteenth special: 'Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom'

Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom will air live worldwide on CNN on Sunday, June 19 at 8pmET, with pre-show coverage beginning at 7pmET including CNN anchor Don Lemon to highlight African-American advocates, trailblazers and creators. It will stream live for pay TV subscribers via CNN.com and CNN OTT and mobile apps under "TV Channels" or CNNgo where available.

Concert performers will include Chaka Khan, Khalid, Yolanda Adams, Jill Scott, Anthony Hamilton, Billy Porter, Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Earth, Wind & Fire, Jhené Aiko, Killer Mike, Lucky Daye, Mary Mary, Ne-Yo, Michelle Williams, Mickey Guyton, Robert Glasper, The Roots and Bell Biv DeVoe. The Re-Collective Orchestra, a 68-piece all-Black symphony orchestra, will also perform.

The show will also include presenters such director and choreographer Debbie Allen; Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles; actors Michael Ealy, Gabourey Sidibe and Kendrick Sampson; comedians Leslie Jones and Lil Rel Howery; and stars from ABC's Black-ish stars Deon Cole, Marsai Martin and Miles Brown.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver special remarks during the televised event.

BET celebrates Juneteenth with a curated programming slate under its “Content For Change” initiative

BET will commemorate ‘Juneteenth’ with inspirational films, music videos, and a special interstitial Manifesto campaign featuring messages of hope from top Black talent, thought leaders, and change agents pledging our collective commitment to freedom, liberation, and joy starting Saturday, June 19, at Noon ET/PT

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#JuneteenthOnBET #FreedomDayMarathon


New York, NY – June 17, 2021 – BET celebrates Juneteenth with a curated programming slate under its “Content For Change” initiative that honors the resilience of the African American spirit and the promise of powerful Black futures. Starting at Noon ET/PT, the network will showcase Black achievement across all platforms and will celebrate the national commemoration of the abolition of slavery in the United States with social justice-themed episodes of series, inspirational films and short-form content. 

BET’s Freedom Day Manifesto

Juneteenth is our day of celebration.

No matter the zip code,

No matter who we love or how we show up.

No matter our age, gender, faith…

We are one.

Today, we celebrate the collective liberation of Black People.

Our spirit has always been free,

Our perseverance remains unmatched.

Black is beautiful.

Black is brilliant.

Black is bold.

We will exercise our power.

We will dream bigger.

We honor ourselves every day…

On this Juneteenth, we show each other extra love

And celebrate the freedom, that is our birthright.

Happy Juneteenth!

From our family to yours.

We celebrate Juneteenth. This year and always.

Programming line-up celebrating the holiday includes:


On BET:

Noon* - “BLACK-ISH” (Social Justice and Family-themed episodes)

  • 5 PM*- “ALI”
  • 9 PM-11 PM* – “QUEEN COLLECTIVE” (More about this series below)
  • 11 PM* – “PASS THE MIC”

*All Times ET/PT


About The “Queen Collective,” P&G’s signature multicultural talent development initiative in partnership with Queen Latifah, Flavor Unit Entertainment, and Tribeca Studios, continues to accelerate gender and racial equality behind the camera, by opening doors to the next generation of up-and-coming Black women directors, as it returns to the Tribeca Festival for a third year.


The mentoring and talent development program is designed to give women filmmakers of color a platform to share important stories from their unique perspective with the aim of expanding the creative pipeline for Black female creators. Created by four diverse young female directors including Arielle Knight, Tina Charles, Cai Thomas, Haimy Assefa, and premiering at Tribeca on Thursday June 17th, these unique documentaries shine a light on important issues directly impacting the black community such as health care, bias and discrimination.


Tune into BET and BET Her on Saturday, June 19, 2021 to watch the full Queen Collective program at 9:00 pm ET/PT, with an encore on Sunday, June 20 at 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm ET/PT on BET Her. For more information go to BET.com/queencollectivefilms.


Watch and share the Juneteenth programming promo by clicking on the link below:

https://app.shift.io/review/60c798e11d531606b2835804


On BET Her:

9 AM* - “GIRLFRIENDS” (Family-themed episodes)

  • 6 PM*- “Miss Juneteenth”
  • 9 PM-11 PM* – “QUEEN COLLECTIVE” (Episodes 201-204 to simulcast with BET Her) #QueenCollective
  • 11 PM* – “PASS THE MIC”

*All Times ET/PT


On BET+ :

BET+, the premium streaming service for the Black community is capturing the spirit of the holiday by showcasing Black culture through the stories that celebrate family, love, laughter and Black excellence. Some of the nostalgic, feel-good content now streaming on BET+ include:

  • All the Way Black
  • Always a Bridesmaid
  • Bigger
  • Boomerang
  • Diggstown:
  • First Wives Club
  • The Jamie Foxx Show
  • Madiba
  • Martin
  • Miss Juneteenth
  • The New Edition Story
  • Tyler Perry’s Bruh


On BET Digital:


Go to BET.com starting on Friday, June 18 for:

  • Op/ED: Juneteenth Is An Opportunity To Remember The Fight Against Voter Suppression.
  • Op/ED: Why Juneteenth Is More Than Just A Day Off – Provided in partnership with Color Of Change
  • VIDEO: What Is Juneteenth? 5 Fascinating Facts About the Soon To Be Federal Holiday


Go to BET.com Saturday, June 19 (Juneteenth) for:

  • Q&A: An interview with Pulitzer Prize winning historian Annette Gordon-Reed on her new book, “On Juneteenth”.
  • Article: 5 Juneteenth festivals across the country to help you celebrate the day.
  • Article: 10 Movies To Watch In Honor Of Juneteenth


Wednesday, June 15, 2022

"Grandmother of Juneteenth" Opal Lee reflects on her journey to secure a national holiday

At 95 years old, Opal Lee is showing no sign of stopping. Her life's story — including her famous trek from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., to call on lawmakers to make Juneteenth a national holiday — has since become legendary, earning her the name "Grandmother of Juneteenth.". Watch her discuss her work yo make Juneteenth a national holiday.

Saturday, May 28, 2022

National Museum of African American History and Culture to Hold Juneteenth Events

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture will host a variety of activities virtual and in-person highlighting the experience of Blacks celebrating Juneteenth.

The programming schedule consists of:
  • Tuning In To Juneteenth, June 6 at 6 p.m. This virtual program features Stephen Lewis, the museum’s curator of music and the performing arts, discussing the debut of the Juneteenth Playlist featuring the best of jazz, soul, rhythm, and blues, gospel, classical and other genres. The program is free but registration is required.
  • Juneteenth Dishes to Taste and Savor, June 6 at 6 p.m. Museum curator Joanne Hyppolite and Sweet Home Café Chef Ramin Coles will talk virtually about how at-home audiences can design and cook a Juneteenth Day menu. The program is free but registration is free.
  • Public Program: Texas Freedom Colonies, June 11, 12 p.m.-1:30 p.m. ET. Andrea Roberts, a scholar at the University of Texas at Austin, will discuss her work researching, documenting, preserving, and mapping “Freedom Colonies”—areas where Blacks started intentional communities between 1865-1935 during Reconstruction and the Jim Crow eras in Texas. This event will occur in the Oprah Winfrey Theater and will be streamed on the museum’s platforms. The program is free but registration is required.
  • Public Program: Juneteenth: Watermelon & Red Birds—A Conversation with Nicole A. Taylor, June 13 at 7 p.m. This in-person event, which will take place in the Oprah Winfrey Theater, will showcase cookout author Nicole A. Taylor and Kevin Young of the museum discussing Taylor’s latest work “Watermelon & Red Birds.” The book talks about 19th century Juneteenth celebration and the latest recipes for modern-day tastes. A reception will follow the discussion and books will be available to purchase. The program is free but registration is required.
  • One Year Later: Juneteenth for all Americans, June 15 at 7 p.m. Kevin Young of the museum moderates in-person a panel of scholars as they discuss the historic and social complexity of Juneteenth. The program is free but registration is required.
  • Juneteenth Community Day, June 19. Celebrate the festivities of Juneteenth in person at the museum with three community events. There will also be craft-making activities occurring from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. All programs are free but registration is required.
  • Storytime: The ABCs of Black History by Rio Cortez, June 20 at 11 a.m. Noted author Rio Cortex will read from her book “The ABCs of Black History.” The program is free but registration is required.
  • Juneteenth Soundstage: Alphonso Horne and the Gotham Kings, June 20 at 3 p.m. ET. Two-time Grammy-nominated trumpeter Alphonso Horne and the Gotham Kings bring the sounds of New Orleans in-person and virtually, to the museum’s Oprah Winfrey Theater. The program is free but registration is required.
  • Juneteenth: A Soldier’s Story, June 20 at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. Museum visitors can learn about the United States Colored Troops, the Black servicemen during the Civil War, and their connection to Juneteenth.    

Saturday, May 07, 2022

Penn State to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth as holidays

Penn State will observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the Juneteenth National Independence Day as official University holidays beginning in 2023, the University announced today (May 6).

“Making these two significant days official University holidays is part of our continuing efforts to align Penn State’s policies with our values in diversity, equity and inclusion,” said Penn State President Eric J. Barron. “Having these recognized as official University holidays will provide students, faculty and staff the opportunity to observe and honor these holidays in their own unique manner.”

For a number of years, Penn State has observed Martin Luther King Jr. Day by canceling academic instruction to allow students and faculty to participate in service activities, observances and festivities. The holiday recognizes the birthday, life and legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and is celebrated on the third Monday of January.

Juneteenth, which is celebrated on June 19 and is sometimes called Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, recognizes the end of slavery in the United States and commemorates the freeing of 250,000 African American slaves in Texas on June 19, 1865. The holiday has been celebrated in the African American community since 1866. It was officially made a federal holiday in 2021 and became an official Pennsylvania holiday on June 19, 2019.

“These are important holidays for all of us to reflect on Black experiences in American history and celebrate the progress that has been made and those who have made that progress possible,” said Marcus Whitehurst, vice provost for Educational Equity. “We still have work to do, and I hope that by celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth in the Penn State community we can continue to work together to advance the ideas that they commemorate.”

The updated policy will give Penn State students faculty and staff the day off on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth, and will not impact other University holidays or breaks.

Monday, February 21, 2022

Commemorative Coin Debuts to Celebrate Juneteenth

Unlimited, LLC is excited to introduce the release of a commemorative coin to celebrate a new Federal holiday – Juneteenth – inspired by the African Diaspora, Black American history and the fight for freedom. Made of one troy ounce of .999 fine silver, this inspirational coin is for anyone who wants a valuable keepsake to memorialize this significant new holiday.

June 19, 1865, marks the date that the last known African-American slaves were freed. As a result, it’s become one of the most important days in African-American history. This commemorative coin will honor and remember the African-American forefathers and mothers who suffered throughout the history of the trans-Atlantic slavery system.

What makes it a fascinating coin is the use of a Swahili word – Nahuona: “I see you.” Careful thought and consideration were put into the use of this word. The concept may present one of the best ways to acknowledge empathy and compassion for our ancestors and for all humanity. Juneteenth Unlimited is also delighted to use a West African Kente textile art design. The reverse side has an image of Frederick Douglass, a former slave who became a famed abolitionist.

In addition to the holiday marking the last known day slaves were freed, Juneteenth serves to remind people that humans have an incredible capacity to heal and emerge from their darkest moments with hope and purpose. This coin represents how people had to rise from the ashes and acquire freedom.

Beverly David Robinson, owner, Juneteenth Unlimited, is also the coin’s designer and is committed to honoring the past while creating a brighter future. She hopes that all Americans will acknowledge the significance and power that Juneteenth holds.

“Precious metals have proven to have financial stability throughout history,” she says. “This coin will hold its value for present and future generations. It’s time to rejoice and celebrate history with one of these cherished coins.”

For more information: https://nahuona.com/

About Juneteenth Unlimited

Juneteenth Unlimited works to raise awareness in the black community about the importance of owning precious metals as long-term investments.

Sunday, June 20, 2021

Hillside NJ host 2nd annual Juneteenth flag raising

On this past Juneteenth, which was the first to be celebrated as a federal holiday, the small town of Hillside, NJ, (which borders Union, Elizabeth, Irvington and Newark) held its second annual Juneteenth flag raising ceremony.

This is especially noteworthy as Hillside was a town that did not segregate its schools until the mid 1980s, and where Black residents, especially its Black students, couldn’t be on the "other side of the bridge" after a certain time of the day.

The event was organized by Hillside Council Vice-President George Cook who is African American, and has lived in Hillside since 1974.

During a brief speech Cook said that although making Juneteenth a federal holiday is nice that there was work to do when it came to police reform, voting rights, and social justice. He also added that we could still appreciate and celebrate Juneteenth while continuing the fight for all of those issues.

Cook also said that it was important for events like this to continue to educate the public as to what Juneteenth is.

"It's not the job of the school system to teach our children about Juneteenth, it's our job to make sure they know about it."

The event included an opening prayer from Rev. Cherrena Del-Rawles, remarks from Councilman Cook's sister and Hillside school board president, Kim Cook, a reading of the history of Juneteenth by Hillside 6th grader Khairi Miller, a Juneteenth poem read by recent Hillside graduate Douglas Nelson, and Hillside resident Sherrill Smith singing "Lift Every Voice" as the Juneteenth Flag was raised by several Hillside children.

Cook wanted to especially thank his wife, Quanda and his daughter, Brittany, who helped a lot behind the scenes, his sister Kim Cook for her crucial help setting up the event, and Hillside Democratic chair for helping with the advertising and planning the event.

Several state, county, and local officials attended the event:

NJ state senator Joe Cryan, Assemblyman Jamel C. Holley, County Commissioner Rebecca Williams , County Commissioner Angela R. Garretson, County Commissioner Andrea Staten, Councilman Donald DeAugustine , Councilwoman Nancy Mondella, Councilwoman Andrea Hyatt, School board President Kim Cook, school board member Joyce Simmons, and several Hillside Democratic Committee district leaders.

Friday, June 18, 2021

NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson, Statement on Juneteenth Bill

NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson releaesed the following statement on President Biden signing a bill making Juneteenth becoming a federal holiday.

"As we work towards substantive pieces of legislation to protect voting rights and create transparency and accountability in policing, we are encouraged by today's signing of the Juneteenth bill. It is a reminder that freedom is an ongoing fight."

Thursday, June 17, 2021

President Biden signs bill into law making Juneteenth a federal holiday

President Joe Biden on Thursday signed a bill establishing Juneteenth, the date commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, as a federal holiday.

Juneteenth National Independence Day will become the 12th legal public holiday, including Inauguration Day, and the first new one created since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was signed into law in 1983 by then-President Ronald Reagan.

Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of the last enslaved African Americans. On that day in 1865, Union soldiers led by Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in the coastal city of Galveston, Texas, to deliver General Order No. 3, officially ending slavery in the state.

Most federal workers will observe Juneteenth on Friday this year because June 19 falls on a Saturday.

Sunday, June 13, 2021

ABC Airing in ‘Juneteenth: Together We Triumph – A ‘Soul of a Nation’ Special Event’


“Good Morning America” co-anchor Michael Strahan sat down for a one-on-one interview with former President Barack Obama about race, resilience and Obama’s book “A Promised Land.” The interview will air in “Juneteenth: Together We Triumph – A ‘Soul of a Nation’ Special Event” on Friday, June 18 (9:01-11:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC. The special event is available the next day on demand and on Hulu.

In the interview, Obama tells Strahan the following: “We’re not all going to live in a perfect kumbaya society. But we can make it better by working and by reaching out and by assuming the best in each other. And if enough of us do that, we move that boulder up the hill.”

A collaboration between ABC News and ABC Entertainment, “Juneteenth: Together We Triumph – A ‘Soul of a Nation’ Special Event,” will present an enriching evening of celebration and resilience in observance of Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating when the enslaved persons in Texas learned of their freedom. Leslie Odom Jr. will guest host two hours of intimate storytelling and powerful tributes with performances by Jimmie Allen, Chloe Bailey (of Chloe x Halle), Leon Bridges and H.E.R.

This powerful special event will include the following stories by ABC News anchors and correspondents:

  • Linsey Davis delves into allyship and the historic partnerships observed in the last year between the Black community and white neighbors in small towns and Black and Asian American religious leaders in urban areas. Davis explores the nuances of performative allyship versus genuine collaboration.
  • Deborah Roberts opens up her own kitchen for an in-depth look into the origins, history and meaning of soul food. She looks at how the racial reckoning in the last year has influenced Black cuisine.
  • Kenneth Moton travels south where the struggles and discrimination faced by Black farmers are front and center, and money earmarked in the stimulus package for this group may provide hope and relief.
  • Janai Norman showcases a new wave of bold artists who are using their art to inspire change, spark difficult conversations, and ultimately provide a cultural lens.
  • Steve Osunsami introduces viewers to a Black business that helped build the nation brick by brick for more than 100 years. He also spotlights how Black-owned businesses and the “Buy Black Movement” endured during a time of racial reckoning.
  • Zachary Kiesch brings viewers more unaired footage of his “Soul of a Nation” interview with H.E.R.

This is the second consecutive year ABC News is producing a special to honor the history and significance of the Juneteenth tradition. In 2020, ABC News’ primetime special “Juneteenth: A Celebration of Overcoming” was the No. 1 program across the board in its time slot. It is currently streaming on Hulu.

“Soul of a Nation” and its respective specials on the year after George Floyd’s murder and observance of Juneteenth are the latest original programming from ABC News, which has a renewed focus on telling diverse stories across the news division. Previous programming includes the aforementioned No. 1-rated “Juneteenth: A Celebration of Overcoming”; the three-day, division-wide series “Pandemic – A Nation Divided” on the disparity in race and class amid the pandemic; “America in Pain: What Comes Next?” on the protests and outrage across the country in response to the killing of George Floyd, police brutality and systemic racism against Black Americans; the month-long reporting series “Turning Point”; and the pre-election special “America’s Future: The Power of the Latino Vote.”

Saturday, July 25, 2020

New York lawmakers make Juneteenth a state holiday

New York lawmakers made use of a rare, mostly remote summer session to approve legislation designating Juneteenth a public holiday.

The Senate and Assembly returned to work this week, taking up myriad measures after the regular legislative session was placed on hold by the pandemic.

The Democrat-led chambers voted to create two new public holidays celebrating Juneteenth, which commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved African-Americans that the Civil War had ended and that they were free, and Abolition Commemoration Day, marking the end of slavery in New York.

“It is long past time that we commemorate and honor important dates in Black history,” said sponsor Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman (D-Queens). “Juneteenth must be recognized across the country as a public holiday, and I am proud that, working with my colleagues, we are able to mark a piece of Black liberation on the calendar and in our cultural consciousness here in New York State.”

Monday, June 29, 2020

NJ State Senate Votes to Make Juneteenth a State Holiday

Acting to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States and to honor the history and contributions of Black Americans, the Senate today approved a bill that would make Juneteenth an official state holiday. The bill is sponsored by Senate President Steve Sweeney, Senator Sandra Cunningham and Senator Joe Cryan.

“Juneteenth marks a day of freedom for Black Americans who suffered the cruelty of slavery and an opportunity to honor the history and contributions of African Americans,” said Senator Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). “This takes on greater significance as the entire country is confronting the racism and inequality that is the bitter legacy of slavery. We can use June 19th and the days that follow to undue past harms and renew our commitment to justice and equality for all.”

“It feels especially fitting to be voting on this legislation in the week leading up to the July Fourth holiday. For many Black Americans, the Fourth of July does not hold the same meaning of freedom and independence that it does for other Americans, because Black Americans were not free on July 4, 1776,” said Senator Cunningham (D-Hudson). “Hopefully, through this legislation, as well as deeper education and a more honest review of our history, more New Jerseyans can realize the significance of Juneteenth as a true day of freedom, even as we continue to work towards ‘justice for all.’”

“This is a way of recognizing the end of slavery in America as an important milestone in the Nation’s history,” said Senator Cryan (D-Union). “A state holiday won’t change everything, but it will provide a platform to increase the understanding of what has happened in the past so that we can learn from it. When we recognize the experiences of history, we are better for it. We can be enriched as a state and more able to move towards equality for everyone.”

It was on June 19, 1865 when enslaved people in Texas were finally told about the Emancipation Proclamation. Since then, Juneteenth has evolved as a date to celebrate the end of slavery, to cultivate an appreciation of African American history and culture, and to address the injustices Black Americans continue to experience.

Saturday, June 20, 2020

Barack Obama Juneteenth statement

Former President, Barack Obama released the following statement via Twitter commemorating Juneteenth:

Juneteenth has never been a celebration of victory, or an acceptance of the way things are. It's a celebration of progress. It's an affirmation that despite the most painful parts of our history, change is possible––and there is still so much work to do.

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee wants Juneteenth to be a federal holiday

Every year, Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee introduces a resolution to recognize the historical significance of Juneteenth. Introduced June 15, this year it has more than 200 co-sponsors — and that’s not all: she also plans this week to introduce a bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.

The road to such a holiday becoming a reality may be long, the Democrat acknowledges, noting it took nearly 20 years for Martin Luther King Jr. Day to become a national holiday, but she’s optimistic that the time is right for increasing awareness about slavery and how its legacy has carried over into modern racism.

“There needs to be a reckoning, an effort to unify. One thing about national holidays, they help educate people about what the story is,” Jackson Lee says. “Juneteenth legislation is a call for freedom, but it also reinforces the history of African Americans. We’ve fought for this country. We’ve made great strides, but we’re still the victims of sharp disparities. Our neighborhoods reflect that. We’ve been denied the same opportunities for housing, access to healthcare and, in 2020, [during] COVID-19, all of the glaring disparities are shown. Because of that, I think this is a time that we may find people who are desirous to understand the history not necessarily only of African Americans, but the history of America.”

[SOURCE: YAHOO]

Thursday, June 11, 2020

Nike & Twitter: Juneteenth To Be Annual Paid Company Holiday

An an internal memo sent to Nike (NKE) staff , CEO John Donahoe announced that the company would recognize Juneteenth an annual paid holiday for U.S. employees.

“As many of you may know, next Friday, June 19, is Juneteenth, a day commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. Starting this year and going forward, Nike will recognize Juneteenth as an annual paid holiday in the U.S,” he wrote. Donahoe said doing so is an “important opportunity is to better commemorate and celebrate Black history and culture.”

Twitter and Square have decided to declare Juneteenth a company holiday as well.

Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey announced on Tuesday that Juneteenth, June 19, will be a holiday for employees at both companies.

He made the announcement on Twitter saying, "A day for celebration, education, and connection." He said the holiday will be honored every year moving forward.

He added that "countries and regions around the world have their own days to celebrate emancipation, and we will do the work to make those dates company holidays everywhere we are present."

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

NJ Governor Phil Murphy and Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver recognize Juneteenth

About two days ago I reached out to the office my governor, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy to ask whether the governor intended to recognize Juneteenth with a brief statement. You can imagine my surprise when today I received a proclamation recognizing Juneteenth from Governor Murphy's office signed by not only Murphy but by Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver also. Thank you Governor Murphy! George L. Cook III African American Reports.Read the proclamation below: