Juneteenth Listening: Anderson. Paak, Teyana Taylor, Public Enemy, John Legend and More

Public Enemy‘s Chuck D tells NME. He’s talking about the mood in the US, and how the one-two punch of Donald Trump’s mishandling of the coronavirus crisis and his response to the protests in the wake of the killing of George Floyd left the nation’s black community feeling enraged and unheard.

Public Enemy opened the 2020 BET Awards last night with a powerful rendition of ‘Fight The Power’, which saw them joined by the likes of Nas, Rapsody, YG and The Roots’ Black Thought and Questlove.Updating the track with timely verses, the performance saw the group referencing the Black Lives Matter movement and nationwide protests across the US after the death of George Floyd.“They say a suicide when dead bodies are swinging / Cowards are hunting Black men that’s what I’m seeing,” Nas rapped,

celebration of Juneteenth — marking the freeing of the last enslaved Americans, on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas — black artists have exercised their creative freedom with new music.And with June also being Black Music Month, it reminds us that music has always been an important part of the black experience in America — from slavery through the civil rights movement to today’s Black Lives Matter mission.From never-before-heard Aretha and Alicia Keys to Teyana Taylor, here are six reasons to

John Legend has said that only statues of people who deserve to be revered by the public should remain on display.

Taylor Swift has joined calls for Juneteenth, the date which marks the official end of slavery in the US, to be made a national holiday.

Juneteenth — the holiday marking the end of slavery in the US on June 19, 1865.“I’m excited that the album’s coming out that day,” says Legend of “Bigger Love,” which arrives two days before his “John Legend and Family: A Bigger Love Father’s Day” special airs on ABC. “And I’m excited that people are taking a moment to celebrate the ending of slavery in this country … It also reminds us that we still have a ways to go to get more free in this country.

Protesters across the United States are demanding justice in the wake of George Floyd‘s death, and that includes defunding police departments in every city and state. Celebrity activists like John Legend, Jane Fonda, and Lizzo have joined the cause, asking that bloated law enforcement budgets be cut, and the money instead be spent on health care, education, and investing in Black communities. Some stars have signed an online letter from Movement For Black Lives, vowing to fight for just that.

John Legend has attacked Donald Trump for his response to the Black Lives Matter protests sweeping the US, describing him as a “bigot” with a “sick mind”.

John Oliver held back tears during a breathtaking episode of Last Week Tonight devoted to discussing the scourge of police brutality in the United States, and Donald Trump‘s “f**king disgusting” response to the protests. “All week long, protesters have continued to fill the streets in all 50 states in the wake of the horrific murder of George Floyd by the police,” Oliver said on the June 7 episode.

The drummer said Trump was "the most attacked president"

Maya Jama attended the peaceful protest held in London's Hyde Park in support of the Black Lives Matter movement on Wednesday.Thousands of people gathered in the capital's park to peacefully voice their outrage over the senseless killing of American man George Floyd at the hands of policemen last week.

John Boyega recently showed up to participate in the protests against the killing of George Floyd and all the other black victims of police brutality and fearlessly addressed the rally. Over the last few days, various Hollywood celebrities have broken the COVID 19 social distancing rule to join the anti-racism solidarity protests taking place across the USA.

"The time has come to defund the police"

Mark Hamill has praised his Star Wars co-star John Boyega following his emotional speech during anti-racism protests in London.