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Biden and Harris Throw a Juneteenth Celebration to Remember on the White House South Lawn

Method man, Ledisi and Jennifer Hudson were among the star-studded guests at the Juneteenth celebration.

Black folks came out for a get-together at the Biden’s House Tuesday evening to celebrate Juneteenth with hugs, high fives, history, great music (of course), and a parade of summer fashion dos and don’ts.

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Guests were greeted with a mini battle of the bands between Tennessee and Morgan State Universities.

β€œThis is some Black stuff right here on the White House lawn,” Method Man announced as Tennessee State played β€œOutstanding” by the Gap Band.

β€œJuneteenth means to me that a lot of people on the other side still gotta lot of work to do,” The Power Book II: Ghost star told The Root. β€œAnd the fact that a lot of our people didn’t know they were free, speaks volumes.”

US rapper and actor Method Man speaks during a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House on June 13, 2023 in Washington, D.C. Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans on June 19th and was declared a federal holiday in 2021 by President Joe Biden.

Guests also relished performers such as Ledisi and Jennifer Hudson as well as sightings on the lawn from Erika Alexander (Maxine on Living Single), an activist on issues such as missing women and fair wages who is behind documentaries Good Trouble on the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis and Reparations.

Vice President Kamala Harris opened the program noting that β€œBlack history is American history,” decrying challenges to suppress it and introducing the β€œgrandmother of Juneteenth,” Opal Lee, who fought for the federal holiday. After discussing the importance of Juneteenth, the 96-year-old retired teacher created a stir by warning everyone to do something about climate change, or β€œwe’re going to hell in a handbasket.”

Other highlights on stage included Audra McDonald’s soaring rendition of β€œSummertime,” Ledisi’s tribute to Tina Turner with Al Green’s β€œLet’s Stay Together,” Jennifer Hudson’s take on Sam Cooke’s β€œA Change Is Gonna Come” finished off with a little of John Legend and Common’s β€œGlory,” the rapid-fire precision of Step Afrika! and some church from Broadway Inspirational Voices, whose β€œPrecious Lord” drew β€œAmens” from members of the Fisk Jubilee Singers relaxing under a tree on the lawn after doing their thing on stage.

Attendees react to a performance from Broadway Inspirational Voices during a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House on June 13, 2023 in Washington, D.C. Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans on June 19th and was declared a federal holiday in 2021 by President Joe Biden.

First Daughter Ashley Biden introduced her father, and the crowd rose to greet him. β€œMaking Juneteenth a federal holiday wasn’t just a symbolic gesture,” President Biden said. β€œIt was a statement of fact for this country to acknowledge the origin of β€” original sin of slavery.”

β€œC’mon Preacher Joe,” a man shouted when President Biden, who sometimes quotes lyrics from β€œI Don’t Feel No Ways Tired” by James Cleveland, said he didn’t think β€œthe good Lord brought us this far to leave us behind.”

After it was over, another man commented that if Biden has a barbecue next time, he just might get to stay in the White House.

Straight From The Root

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