(Washington) US President Joe Biden hosted a major concert on the South Lawn of the White House to commemorate “Juneteenth,” the country’s new federal holiday that the president said will “breathe new life into the very essence from America “.
“For me, making Juneteenth a federal holiday wasn’t just a token gesture. It was a statement of fact for this country to recognize the origin of the original sin of slavery, to understand that war was never fought over it, that it was not just a union, but that it was more fundamentally about country and freedom,” the president said.
Vice President Kamala Harris added that Juneteenth is an opportunity “to honor Black excellence, culture and community.”
“America is a promise: a promise of freedom and justice,” she said. The story of Juneteenth, as we celebrate it, is the story of our ongoing fight to fulfill that promise. Not for some, but for all. »
The concert also marked Black Music Month and featured artists such as Tony Award winner Audra McDonald and singer and talk show host Jennifer Hudson.
In 2021, Mr. Biden signed bipartisan legislation establishing “Juneteenth” – a contraction of “June” and “nineteenth” (19e June day) – as a federal holiday.
The holiday marks the date the last slaves in the United States were told they were free – which happened on June 19, 1865.