JUNETEENTH: TODAY IS THE DAY

It’s been a remarkable week in the run-up to today’s Juneteenth events. On Wednesday Congress overwhelmingly passed a resolution making Juneteenth a federal holiday; the next day, President Biden signed it into law. For members of government who can’t agree on how to fix the potholes in our highways, the speed with which this legislation was passed was breathtaking.

Now, Juneteenth is a day of celebration and reflection, another small step in a long journey to rid this country of systemic racism and establish the equality upon which it was ostensibly founded.

The National Museum of African American Music is the industry hub for Juneteenth celebrations, with this morning’s museum dedication in Nashville followed by a block party on Lower Broadway, which begins at 11am CT.

Cap off the day with the livestream of the inaugural Unityfest, curated by Robert Randolph and featuring performances by Aloe Blacc, Black Pumas, Darius Rucker, Earth, Wind & Fire, Dave Matthews, Carter Beauford and Nile Rodgers (who yesterday was reelected chairman of the Songwriters Hall of Fame).

Stream Unityfest below and check out all of NMAAM’s Juneteenth and Black Music Month programming, including Thursday’s Celebration of Legends concert and Friday’s State of Black Music summit, on the museum’s YouTube channel.