BTN News: This year, as Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States, continues to be recognized after last year’s protests, Los Angeles is celebrating the commemoration with several events citywide. It involves star-studded concerts, community get-togethers, and many more to celebrate this auspicious day.
Major Concerts at the Forum and Hollywood Bowl
Kendrick Lamar to Headline Forum’s Pop Out: Ken & Friends The event starts at 4 p.m. with DJ Hed, and continues with Mustard at 4:45 p.m., and Lamar at 5:45 p.m. for his first high profile show since his highly publicized feud with Drake. This concert will be streamed on Prime Video & Twitch.
Additionally, the Hollywood Bowl will inaugurate a Juneteenth observance headlined and co-curated by T-Pain. Melding R&B and hip-hop with orchestral music, the concert will feature sets from Ledisi, D Smoke, Jordin Sparks and Tevin Campbell. Gates open at 6 p.m/ Concert at 8 p.m.
Special Community Times and Celebrations
Hollywood: The Ovation Hollywood shopping center will celebrate Juneteenth this Saturday with a performance by the RAISE Gospel Choir and spoken word artist Alexander James from 12:30 to 3 p.m.
Poncitlán Square in Palmdale from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., for a family friendly event featuring live music, a car show, community resources, food vendors, and a Juneteenth-themed paint & sip experience.
12:00 p.m.– 1:30 p. m.: Farnsworth Park, Altadena Short Film “Ellen Garrison: Scenes From An Activist’s Life” with the Altadena Historical Society Presents scholarship in honor of Ellen Garrison Jackson Clark.
Discussions and Exhibitions
The Introduction: What is Freedom, a panel discussion (Venice) and “Are We Free Yet?” at 910 Abbot Kinney Blvd. The journey, entitled Freedom! kicks off at 5 p.m. in Juneteenth Art Exhibition” coordinated by Black in Mayberry.
Juneteenth Marked By Sporting Events
Juneteenth will be recognized in the LA Galaxy and Angel City Football Club Wednesday night matches. The LA Galaxy Foundation will team with Black Star to advance soccer in Black American communities, providing transportation and free tickets to more than 100 Inglewood youth for the team’s game vs. New York City Football Club at Dignity Health Sports Park.
During the pre-match ceremony, wear special edition “I AM #19” shirts to recognize Juneteenth and Castella will sing the national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
Also at BMO Stadium in Exposition Park, Angel City FC will hold a street fair and host a Black Women’s Player Collective panel ahead of their game against Racing Louisville FC. The doubleheader’s national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing” will be sung by Norelle Simpson.
City-Side Themes and Upcoming Celebrations
Los Angeles City Hall, LAX pylons and Pacific Park’s Ferris wheel will shine red, green, and black in tribute to Juneteenth Events scheduled later in the week also included “Juneteenth: Stories that Unite Us” Thursday at Agape International Spiritual Center, and “Juneteenth Celebration” on Friday in Carson hosted by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell and the Department of Parks and Recreation. On Saturday, there will be a community event at 1 pm at Val Verde Community Park in Castaic.
Juneteenth Historical Context
It is the day in 1865 that Union Army Gen. Gordon Granger announced in Galveston, Texas, that all enslaved people were free, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862. Juneteenth – June 17, 2021 Marking the official establishment of Juneteenth as a federal holiday, this is a time to reflect on the fight for equality.
Sympathy Closures and Federal Observances
Federal offices and US post offices will shut down in observance of Juneteenth on Wednesday, with mail delivery also on pause. In his proclamation marking Juneteenth a federal holiday, President Joe Biden said, “Juneteenth is a day in which we remember the moral stain from the darkest and loneliest of centuries of slavery against good and goodblood. It is to revive the concept America was just built upon: that all are created equally and all are to be treated equally in life.
