Juneteenth at WH: ‘Black history is American history’

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – A celebration was held on the White House Front Lawn to honor Juneteenth, the newest federal holiday.

The featured musicians and artists include Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Raheem DeVaughn, Kirk Franklin, Doug E. Fresh, Anthony Hamilton, Patina Miller, Brittney Spencer, Trombone Shorty, Charlie Wilson and Roy Wood Jr.

Vice President Kamala Harris recounted the origins of Juneteenth in her speech.

“For more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed,” Harris said, “hundreds of thousands of Americans in Texas were still enslaved. Then Union troops arrived in Galveston, and on June 19th, 1865, the enslaved people of Texas learned they were free. On that day, they claimed their freedom.”

While enumerating the policies that the administration put in place, like student debt relief and insulin price caps, Harris also added that the White House will attempt to prevent medical debt from affecting credit reports.

“The White House Lawn has never seen anything like this before,” President Joe Biden said of the event.

In 2021, the Biden administration officially made Juneteenth a national holiday.

“Black history is American history,” Biden said. He then referenced his speech to Normandy last week to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

“One of those soldiers of the Red Ball Express who fought, fought for freedom on distant shores, was a civil rights lawyer who fought for freedom here at home,” Biden said.

He continued, “61 years ago this week, he was gunned down at home in Mississippi, in the poison of white supremacy. But all these years later, his spirit endures. You all know his name was Medgar Evers.”

President Biden posthumously awarded Medgar Evers the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor, on May 3rd this year.

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