White House to Host Juneteenth Concert to Celebrate Black Artists

The White House announced Friday that it will host a Juneteenth concert later this month, featuring a lineup of award-winning black artists from various music genres.

The concert will be held on June 10 at the White House’s South Lawn. The lineup includes R&B singer and actress Patti LaBelle, singer and Grammy award winner Gladys Knight, and gospel singer Kirk Franklin.

Other featured artists include Raheem DeVaughn, Doug Fresh, Anthony Hamilton, Patina Miller, Brittney Spencer, Trombone Shorty, Charlie Wilson, Roy Wood, Jr., and the U.S. Marine Band.

The White House said the concert will be “a celebration of community, culture and music,” during Black Music Month, which is dedicated to honoring black musicians’ contributions to American music and culture.

This will be the second Juneteenth concert hosted by the White House since President Joe Biden signed bipartisan legislation in 2021 establishing Juneteenth as the nation’s newest federal holiday.

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“Black music began when enslaved people, who were cruelly prohibited from communicating in their native languages, found ways to express themselves through music,” he said.

“This month, may we show gratitude to all the black artists, whose work speaks to the soul of who we are, shows us the way forward together, and reminds us to lift every voice.”

Juneteenth, a portmanteau of June 19, marks the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to relay news of the end of the Civil War. It’s a celebration of the end of slavery.

The concert is also supported by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Institute for Museum and Library Services, and Adobe, among others.

“Black music has shaped my life, shaped America, and influenced so many music genres. Black music is the soundtrack of our struggle and joy,” Ms. Brown, co-chair of the Congressional Rock and Roll Caucus, said in a statement.

“June is the month where we celebrate Juneteenth and the struggle for black freedom. From concerts and playlists to museum exhibits and school programming, building up Black Music Month is an opportunity to educate and celebrate,” she added.

The resolution was also endorsed by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the National Museum of African American Music, and the Louis Armstrong House Museum.

Mimi Nguyen Ly and Savannah Hulsey Pointer contributed to this report.