By Stacy M. Brown,
Senior National Correspondent,
NNPA Newswire
President Joe Biden delivered a powerful speech denouncing racism in the United States during the White House’s first major Juneteenth celebration on June 13. The Biden-Harris administration hosted a concert in celebration of the holiday, featuring renowned singers Jennifer Hudson, Audra McDonald and Ledisi. Organizers aimed to highlight the American values Biden said he believes are under threat.
Addressing the audience, Biden urged Americans to choose love over hate and emphasized the importance of remembering history—rather than erasing it.
“As the past few years remind us, our freedoms have been put at risk by racism, that’s still too powerful a force. Hate only hides… And when given oxygen, just a little oxygen, it comes roaring back out again,” said Biden. “We have to stand up and deny it the oxygen. Juneteenth as a federal holiday is meant to breathe new life into the very essence of America.”
Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black woman to serve as vice president, began the evening by explaining the origins of Juneteenth and introducing 96-year-old Opal Lee, whose tireless advocacy played a significant role in establishing Juneteenth as a holiday.
Lee urged the audience to be catalysts for change, saying, “Make yourself a committee of one to change somebody’s mind. If people can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love.”
A celebration of community, culture, and music, the White House event on the South Lawn featured performances by marching bands from Morgan State University, located in Baltimore, and Tennessee State University, located in Nashville.
Other artists to perform included the dance group Step Afrika! and choirs from other historically black colleges and universities. Biden emphasized that making Juneteenth a federal holiday was not merely a symbolic gesture but a statement acknowledging the origin of slavery as the country’s original sin. He stressed that the Civil War was not fought solely over a union but was fundamentally about the country and freedom.
Harris expressed that Juneteenth is an occasion to honor Black excellence, culture, and community, stating, “America is a promise – a promise of freedom, liberty, and justice. The story of Juneteenth, as we celebrate it, is a story of our ongoing fight to realize that promise. Not for some, but all.”
In addition to commemorating Juneteenth, the concert celebrated Black Music Month, featuring renowned artists such as McDonald and Hudson.
The event was a time to remember for all in attendance and offered a glimpse at the l significance of Black contributions to American culture.
This article was originally published by the NNPA.
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