On its South Lawn, the White House hosted its inaugural Juneteenth celebration. The event included a battle of the bands between Morgan State and Tennessee State, as well as performances from Jennifer Hudson, Maverick City Music, Ledisi, Step Afrika!, the Hampton University Concert Choir, Fisk Jubilee Singers, Coolman Domingo, Nicco Annan, Patina Miller and “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. The event was emceed by Method Man, who gave a shout-out to hip-hop turning 50 in one of the night’s monologues.
Hudson stunned the crowd with a sensational rendition of “Glory,” the 2015 single from John Legend and Common. The EGOT performer began the song by playing the piano before crescendoing into a powerful close.
“It’s history-making, and it’s beautiful,” Tisha Campbell told rolling out. “We have Battle of the Bands, we have Method Man, what more could you want?
“Juneteenth is such an important thing. Since the President and the Vice President have made this an official holiday, this is the very first time we all have this kind of celebration of who we are. It’s just important for us to be represented, and that’s why I’m here.”
For actress Erika Alexander, the event represented Black liberation.
“[Black liberation] looks like the fact we’re standing here on this lawn, enjoying this day, celebrating Juneteenth,” Alexander told rolling out. “Thank you, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, for sponsoring it. Thanks to America, meaning the representatives, for passing it, and actually making it known that it should be not only a holiday but a day of thought and restoration for us to talk about the effects of slavery but also the freedom of the [formerly] enslaved people.”
Biden addressed the crowd, re-iterating Black history is American history and the administration is doing its best to continue to cut down on student loans and push for a ban on assault rifles.
