The concert marks June 16, the holiday that marks the end of slavery in the United States. Black artists who will take the stage on Sunday night include Earth, Wind & Fire Khalid and Bell Biv Devoe and others.
Gospel star Yolanda Adams opened the show with an exciting performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, a historically unifying shout that is also considered the Black National Anthem. Brilliant Chaka Khan, backed by Roots, followed her hits “Ain’t Nobody” and “I’m Every Woman”, dedicating her latest song to “Powerful Women” in the Hollywood Bowl audience.
Country phenomenon Mickey Gaiton performed Marvin Gaye’s protest anthem “What’s Going On” and sang her original Grammy-nominated single, “Black Like Me.” The poet Amir Suleiman performed a powerful work with a message to the audience: “You will be someone’s ancestor. Act accordingly.
Vice President Kamala Harris appeared in a recorded message, as did former First Lady Michelle Obama, who urged viewers to vote.
And yes, it was Beyoncé making a vocal cameo in a pre-recorded segment for Opal Lee, the 95-year-old activist who is working to make June 18th a federal holiday. (More on Lee below.) A statement from President Joe Biden is yet to come.
The entire creative team behind the concert is Black, said Sarah Sidner of CNN before the show, including creator Sean Gee of Live Nation Urban and Jesse Collins Entertainment. The evening is also the first time the all-black orchestra, the Re-Collective Orchestra, will play at the Hollywood Bowl, Sidner said.
The Re-Collective Orchestra performed with members of the Debbie Allen Dance Company, who performed a live dance piece (and was performed by Allen herself).
This is the second year that the United States has recognized June 16 as a federal holiday, but many black Americans have celebrated the date for years with parades, parties, and family gatherings. The holiday is also an opportunity to reflect on the continuing systemic inequalities facing black Americans.
The event in honor of the “grandmother of the eleventh”
In a special program before the show, 95-year-old Lee told Don Lemon on CNN that she was “pinched [herself]The fact that the work of her life to make Uniniti a federal holiday was a success. Earlier, this Uniniti Lee, considered the “grandmother of Juninite”, walked 2.5 miles to symbolize two and a half years of enslavement. African Americans from Galveston, Texas, lived in slavery after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
Lee said Americans should spend the holiday celebrating, studying, and continuing to advocate for change.
“I advocate celebrating from June 19 to July 4,” she said. “It would be a celebration of freedom.”
CNN’s Harmith Kaur and Chloe Melas contributed to this report.
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