June 19, 2023: How Celebrities Celebrate the Holidays
National Independence Day in June commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. The holiday is celebrated on June 19, the anniversary of Union General Gordon Granger’s 1865 executive order notifying enslaved blacks in Galveston, Texas of their freedom.
The news came two months after the Confederacy’s surrender and about two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation freed enslaved people in the southern states. Now June 19, which became a federal holiday in 2021, is celebrated locally and internationally, and by some of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Abbott Elementary actress Sheryl Lee Ralph spent Sunday at the Juneteenth Parade and Festival in Philadelphia.
She tweeted that the celebrations – with food, floats and music – were “a wonderful celebration of freedom, free from chaos and filled with love and community spirit”!
Former President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama both tweeted to celebrate.
Obama said Commemorating the anniversary is “a reminder that even in the darkest hours there is cause for hope – and a reason to continue building a country that lives up to its highest ideals.”
The former first lady wrote that the holiday is “an opportunity to pay tribute to countless advocates, activists and changemakers and the work they have done to build a more perfect union,” and encouraged people to register to vote.
Vice President Kamala Harris tweeted that Juneteenth “is the story of our ongoing struggle to fulfill that promise: not for some, but for all.”
Whether it’s with delicious food or community events, how you honor Juneteenth varies from person to person.
Talk show host and singer Jennifer Hudson attended the first ever Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn with her children on June 13th.
Grammy winner Alicia Keys’ Juneteenth celebration coincided with Father’s Day celebrations. The “Fallin'” and “Girl on Fire” singer shaped both occasions at the beach with her husband Swizz Beatz and their children on Monday.
‘Little Fires Everywhere’ and ‘Scandal’ star Kerry Washington posted a TikTok in which she lip-synched TV personality Ts Madison’s monologue about pride in black identity.
“I’m black. I’m probably one of the blackest moms in this place. I’m probably one of the blackest moms in this county. Black so,” she mumbled along.
they also posted a video of herself happily swimming in a pool, with a caption that reads “everyone”. [her] Sisters” to “ensure that you are doing the things that will lead you to your liberation.”
During her show in Amsterdam on Sunday, Beyoncé wore costumes designed “exclusively” by black fashion designers in honor of the Juneteenth, the website revealed Instagram.
Her wardrobe for the concert included designs by Feben, Maximilian Davis for Ferragamo, Olivier Rousteing for Balmain, Ibrahim Kamara for Off-White, LaQuan Smith and of course her clothing line Ivy Park Fashion.
Media mogul Tyler Perry celebrated the day with a simple “Happy Juneteenth” Graphic on Instagram.
