Biden celebrates Juneteenth, the newest federal holiday, at the White House
President Joe Biden hosted a massive concert on the South Lawn of the White House to commemorate Juneteenth, the countryโs newest federal holiday which the president said will โbreathe a new life in the very essence of America.โ.
Juneteenth Playlist: A curated list of tunes you need ahead of Freedom Day
In the spirit of Juneteenth, a holiday that is now celebrated throughout the entire United States, not just Texas, KPRC 2 has curated a playlist that will be perfect for any vibe. Rather youโre throwing something on the grill or sitting at home, this playlist will set the tone for the day. We hope you enjoy!
Juneteenth was finally recognized as a federal holiday. Then came commercialization.
Juneteenth may be the countryโsย newest federal holiday, but for many Black Americans, June 19 has long been associated with homegrown community celebrations, if not at least understood asย a day to symbolize freedom.
Celebrating Juneteenth: Follow the Freedom Walk through Galveston
The Freedom Walk trail in Galveston retraces the footsteps of Major General Gordon Granger and the 2000 federal soldiers who arrived in Galveston on June 19, 1865, to announce that those enslaved were free. This day would become, what we now know as, Juneteenth. If you would like to walk the Freedom Trail, there is an app for that! Download it at Visit.Galevston.com
Juneteenth: Take a trip along the historic Emancipation Trail
In honor of Juneteenth, follow in the footsteps of the newly freed slaves as Houston Lifeโs Enrique Ramirez takes you along the Emancipation Trail -- the route so many families took as they journeyed out of Galveston to start their new lives.
โA celebration of freedomโ: Galvestonโs Reedy Chapel A.M.E. Church historical site of original Juneteenth celebration
More than 150 years ago, the old courthouse in Galveston on Post Office Street is where enslaved people learned they were free. Down the street is the site of the first documented celebration of Juneteenth.
United Airlines, Mayor Turner host commemorative Juneteenth flight for Houston-area students
In observance of Juneteenth, United Airlines will host 100 students from Houston Independent School District and Aldine Independent School District at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) for a day of aviation activities.
Mother-son owners of new Black-owned River Oaks recording studio teaching โthe bizโ through summer internships
More than a dozen local aspiring artists and interns will now have the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the music biz, thanks to a mother and son duo who are using their knowledge and resources to give back to Houston's entertainment community.
Juneteenth: Past, Present, Future
Juneteenth is a relatively new federal holiday, put on the calendar in 2021. This year, Juneteenth falls on a Sunday, therefore the federal government will observe the day on Monday, June 20. At 3:00 p.m. a special edition of Houston Life. The Houston Life team is broadcasting from Galveston honoring the past, present and future of Juneteenth. Weโll look at the history of Juneteenth in Galveston. Plus, weโre at Emancipation Park in Houston looking at the parkโs legacy. And, weโre with our future, the children. Weโll discuss why they are honoring the holiday. Thatโs Monday at 3:00 p.m. on KPRC 2.
Former Olympian and James Beard nominated chef creates dish for Juneteenth
Monday at 3:00 p.m. on Houston Life, you saw her this season on Top Chef Houston. Now celebrity chef Dawn Burrell is joining Houston Life in studio with her latest recipe just in time for Juneteenth. Burrell represented the USA in the 2000 Summer Olympics as a long jumper. Then in 2020, she was a James Beard semi-finalist. Weโll catch up with the former Olympian turned chef, Monday on KPRC 2.
Opal Leeโs Juneteenth dream came true, but she isnโt done
Opal Leeโs dream of seeing Juneteenth become a federal holiday was finally realized over the summer, but the energetic woman who spent years rallying people to join her push for the day commemorating the end of slavery is hardly letting up on a lifetime of work teaching and helping others.
Emancipation Park hosts 149th Annual Juneteenth Celebration with virtual events
Emancipation Park is located in Houstonโs Third Ward, and is a great place for community members to gather and celebrate Juneteenth. This year, they have been presenting virtual programs on their online platforms throughout the month of June, with support from corporate partners like Shell.
โThe power of living historyโ: Meet the woman whoโs helping to preserve Texasโ Black history
The gift of storytelling is an art form that has the ability to entertain, educate and even heal. Naomi Mitchell Carrier has been using her talents to teach a generation through powerful performances. From writing and composing the renowned historical musical โI Am Annie Maeโ to founding the Texas Center for African American Living History (TCAALH), Carrier is helping to lead the charge to preserve Texasโ Black history and has no plans of slowing down.
KPRC 2 & Emancipation Park Conservancy host a conversation on social justice, reform, and our community
KPRC 2 partnered with Houstonโs Emancipation Park Conservancy for a live webinar on social justice, reform, and our community. Itโs one of many events EPC planned to celebrate Juneteenth this month.
As campaign heats up, Trump woos Latino, Black voters
He courted Hispanic voters near Miami and Black voters in Atlanta. โThis is an unusual name for an organization whose ideology and tactics are right now destroying many Black lives,โ Trump charged. On Friday morning, at his golf club in Doral, Florida, Trump tried to blunt Bidenโs support among Hispanic voters at a โLatinos for Trumpโ roundtable. But a Monmouth University poll also conducted this month found Biden well ahead of Trump among Latino voters in the state, 58% to 32%. Hispanic voters in Florida tend to be somewhat more Republican-leaning than Hispanic voters nationwide because of the stateโs Cuban American population, which Trump acknowledged several times in his remarks.
Up next for police defunding advocates: Win local elections
A person holds up a sign advocating for defunding the police as people gather to mark Juneteenth, Friday, June 19, 2020, in St. Louis. An outgrowth of the Defund the Police movement, the WFP Justice Fund is led by the Working Families Party and the Movement for Black Lives Electoral Justice Project. The result, they said, would be a shift in local government budgets and public safety systems around the country. For example, in Chicago's 2019 elections, WFP helped increase the council's Progressive Caucus to 18 seats out of the 50 total. In Washington, D.C., city council candidate Janeese Lewis George, backed by the Working Families Party, toppled an incumbent Democrat on a defunding platform and is in line to claim the seat in November.
Facebook groups pivot to attacks on Black Lives Matter
FILE - In this June 19, 2020, file photo, protesters wear protective masks as they march after a Juneteenth rally outside the Brooklyn Museum, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. A loose network of Facebook groups that took root across the country in April to organize protests over coronavirus stay-at-home orders has become a hub of misinformation and conspiracies theories that have pivoted to a variety of new targets. Their latest: Black Lives Matter and the nationwide protests against racial injustice. (AP Photo/John Minchillo
'Lift Every Voice and Sing' hymn ignites hope across nation
(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)LOS ANGELES The Black national anthem was born more than a century ago, but the popular hymn within the African American community called Lift Every Voice and Sing has resurrected a beacon of hope during nationwide protests. The NAACP dubbed Lift Every Voice and Sing as the Black national anthem in 1919. Sharpton said the ability of Lift Every Voice and Sing enduring several generations speaks volumes. The NFL will play Lift Every Voice and Sing" before each game during Week 1, a person familiar with the discussions told The Associated Press. There's always been the controversy about race being involved in the national anthem.
Nicole Beharie Gets Candid About 'Sleepy Hollow' Exit
Years after her shocking exit from Sleepy Hollow, Nicole Beharie is opening up about the circumstances surrounding her departure. Sleepy Hollow returned for a fourth season without Beharie, but was ultimately cancelled. In an interview with the New York Timeswhile promoting her new film, Miss Juneteenth, Beharie admitted that she's shied away from speaking about her exit from Sleepy Hollow, saying, "I never wanted to talk about this until the resentment and bitterness was out of my system." Beharie in 'Miss Juneteenth.' RELATED CONTENT:Nicole Beharie on the Unexpected Timeliness of 'Miss Juneteenth''Sleepy Hollow': Abbie Gives Ichabod Dating Pointers!
Supporting black-owned businesses on Juneteenth and year-round
Black-owned businesses are vital to the areaโs growth, said Marina Coryat, a board member of the Houston Area Urban League (HAUL). โWhen we can support black-owned businesses, it helps the ripple effect to help other families in our community,โ Coryat said. To many, June 19 is known as Juneteenth, a day to celebrate the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. The day now serves as a double celebration for those connected to the Houston Area Urban League said Coryat. โTo think that an organization has been doing this to help others for that length of time is incredible,โ Coryat said.
Hereโs how people celebrated Juneteenth in the Houston area
HOUSTON โ Juneteenth marked 155 years since the Emancipation Proclamation reached Galveston, freeing the last enslaved people in American. RELATED: The story of Juneteenth in Houston and its significance to black communities across the USHere are a few ways Houstonians celebrated Juneteenth in the city and in Galveston. Ride for JusticeAt a Block PartyAt Emancipation ParkHappy Juneteenth from Emancipation Park. #JUNETEENTH2020 #HappyJuneteenth pic.twitter.com/WlX5XGVILG โ Council Member Letitia Plummer (@CMPlummer4) June 19, 2020In ReflectionThe Houston Rockets organization will reflect, celebrate, and educate today in honor of #Juneteenth. pic.twitter.com/JTv6dJAmN8 โ Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) June 19, 2020
DC protesters pull down, burn statue of Confederate general
President Donald Trump quickly tweeted about the toppling, calling out D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and writing: The DC police are not doing their job as they watched a statue be ripped down and burn. After the statue fell, most protesters returned peacefully to Lafayette Park near the White House. The Pike statue has been a source of controversy over the years. The former Confederate general was also a longtime influential leader of the Freemasons, who revere Pike and who paid for the statue. Ever since 1992, members of the DC Council have been calling on the federal govt to remove the statue of Confederate Albert Pike (a federal memorial on federal land).
The Latest: Beyonc single benefits Black-owned businesses
The singer's website says the song released late Friday, June 19, 2020, will benefit black-owned small businesses. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)TOP OF THE HOUR: Beyonc releases new single to benefit Black-owned small businesses. Nevada officials renew proposal to remove statue of McCarran. ___LOS ANGELES Beyonc did not let Juneteenth pass without dropping one of her signature surprises in the form a new single called Black Parade.The singers website says the song released late Friday will benefit Black-owned small businesses. Make America great again give me the date that America was great for everybody, Sharpton said.
Former and current Houston Texans players reflect on Juneteenth
HOUSTON A few weeks ago, accompanied by teammates like Deshaun Watson and Jacob Martin, Houston Texans linebacker Peter Kalambayi attended the peaceful protest against police brutality after the death of native Houstonian George Floyd. Honestly it was just a nice protest, said Kalambayi. Recognizing Juneteenth as a holiday and encouraging employees to reflect was one of those changes. For them to recognize the inequality and whats taken place in society, I think thats an important step moving forward, said Moses. Obviously just allowing current players to voice their opinions, I think thats a good start, said Kalambayi.
Hundreds attend Houston rapper and activist Trae Tha Truths Ride for Justice on Juneteenth
HOUSTON Houston rapper and activist Trae Tha Truth organized a Ride for Justice in Houston on Juneteenth Friday that brought out hundreds of people. The cars drew a crowd to 300 Emancipation Avenue but it was the organizers who drove home the message. Right is right and wrong is wrong and there is a lot of people that havent had justice that we need to stand up for, said Trae Tha Truth. He said that the peace ride is a way to remember the victims and bring the community together. Organizers estimate more than 200 people were in attendance for the ride.
Minnesota ends special session without deal on policing
(AP Photo/Jim Mone)MINNEAPOLIS A special session of the Minnesota Legislature ended Saturday without agreement on remaking policing in the state where George Floyd was killed. I'm deeply disappointed that Senate Republicans ended the special session before our job was done," Senate Minority Leader Susan Kent tweeted. Were not walking away from Minnesota here, but I think we could all benefit from a breather, Gazelka said just before adjournment, Minnesota Public Radio News reported. The special session was necessary for Democratic Gov. If Walz seeks to extend his emergency powers an additional 30 days, he's required to call another special session for July 12 to let lawmakers object.
Beyonc Drops Empowering 'Black Parade' Song in Celebration of Juneteenth -- Listen
The empowering track, titled "Black Parade," touches on the world's current events, as well as celebrates Black excellence. "'Black Parade' celebrates you, your voice and your joy and will benefit Black-owned small businesses." Black joy is your right." Additionally, "Black Parade" benefits BeyGOOD's Black Business Impact Fund, administered by the National Urban League, to support Black-owned small businesses in need. On the "Love on Top" singer's website, fans are also redirected to a page with more information on the companies.
More U.S. workers getting Juneteenth off as awareness grows
The date - June 19th - is not a federal holiday, and many non-black Americans have only recently become of aware of the day. Several of her employees are spending the day volunteering for the Juneteenth Freedom Phonebank, an initiative encouraging Census participation. Declaring the date a federal holiday would add considerable momentum, and there is growing support for the idea. Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, introduced legislation Thursday to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. In contrast, 93% of employers close on Independence day, with similar rates for Labor Day, Christmas Day and Thanksgiving.
โIt will be signed by a presidentโ: Texas legislators discuss HR 7232 to make Juneteenth national holiday
HOUSTON โ Members of the Texas congressional delegation spoke Friday about legislation aimed at making Juneteenth a national holiday. U.S. Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Houston) led the event in Houstonโs Independence Heights, saying it was a historic day. โI believe that we are about to venture onto a historic moment for this nation and this is because there is more of a reckoning for what Juneteenth means,โ Jackson Lee said. Jackson Lee announced that she would introduce HR 7232 to Congress on Monday, which would aim to establish Juneteenth as a national holiday. โIt will be signed by a president,โ Jackson Lee said.
Houston Museum of African American Culture reopens on Juneteenth
HOUSTON โ The Houston Museum of African American Culture is scheduled to reopen on Juneteenth after the COVID-19 closure. โJuneteenth really represents when all Americans were free,โ said John Guess, Jr., CEO of HMAAC. Thereโs the prospect of a quote on quote, โfreedom,โโ said Guess. The conversation of race is at the forefront in our country, considering the death of George Floyd and protests calling for equality for the African American community. The museum is located 4807 Caroline in Houstonโs Museum District.
Google Doodle commemorates the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth, set to โLift Every Voice and Singโ
(CNN) -- In honor of Juneteenth, companies have given employees paid leave in celebration, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is pushing to make it a paid state holiday and there seems to be more awareness around the holiday than ever before. Now, Google is also jumping in, commemorating the 155th anniversary of June 19 -- largely celebrated as the end of slavery in the US -- with a video Google Doodle. Set to the first verse of "Lift Every Voice and Sing," also called the Black national anthem, the video begins with General Order No. A blend of the words June and nineteenth, Juneteenth is the oldest known US celebration of the end of slavery.
Taylor Swift got educated on Juneteenth and wants you to be, too
(CNN) -- From now on, anyone working for Taylor Swift will have the day off for Juneteenth. What's more, Swift wanted to educate her followers about the celebration so the superstar singer posted information on her official social media accounts about the holiday also known as Freedom Day. On Friday, Swift posted a video of The Root writer Danielle Young explaining the origins of Juneteenth and why it should be a national holiday. She thanked the site and Young before also sharing her thoughts about the day. Edward Carmack and Nathan Bedford Forrest were DESPICABLE figures in our state history and should be treated as such.โ