Usher Pens Powerful Essay on Juneteenth: ‘This Country Must Change’

Bruce Haring pmc-editorial-managerAs the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Indians examine their team names and logos in contemplation of changing what many deem offensive, one other baseball team has remained outside of the debate.The Atlanta Braves, who once spotlighted Chief Noc-a-Homa, a Native American who would emerge from a teepee and do a war dance when a team player hit a home run (he was “retired” before the 1986 season) just issued a letter that seemed defiant on the name

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorAs pressure mounts on the Washington Redskins to change their name, fans are renewing calls on Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Indians to alter that team’s name, as well. On Friday, just a few hours after the Redskins issued a statement about their team name, Cleveland did likewise.

Alyssa Milano is calling for the Washington Redskins to change the team's name. The 47-year-old actress took to Twitter on Wednesday to air her grievances about the derogatory name.

Brandi Carlile is opening up about her life and experiences as a gay woman.

After taking a week off to commemorate Juneteenth, Lil Wayne returned to Young Money Radio on Friday (June 26) with an all-star guest lineup.

Usher is hoping to provoke change in a myriad of ways. After protesting alongside Trey Songz earlier this month and penning an op-ed for The Washington Post highlighting the importance of Juneteenth, on Friday (June 26), Usher skated back to his domain -- the studio -- and doled out his gripping new track, "I Cry."His latest record is a riveting display of vulnerability and compassion for those harboring pain at the expense of prejudice and inequality, especially under police brutality.

Will Thorne Staff WriterKerry Washington and Pilar Savone, the exec VP of production and development at Washington’s Simpson Street banner, first met on the set of Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained.”Savone had been working for some time with Tarantino, and Washington had been learning from “amazing numbers ones” on the call sheet like Jamie Foxx, but together, they decided to form Simpson Street to start producing their own work, telling the kinds of stories they had always wanted to

Kerry Washington is speaking her mind about diversity in Hollywood, pointing out that while some great strides have been made there’s still plenty more that needs to be done.

Over the past month, the U.S. has erupted with protests in every corner of the country in response to wrongful deaths of Black people at the hands of mostly white police officers.

Usher, 41, had us fallin’ in love amid his beach day in Malibu on June 20! However, the family fun day took a surprise turn when a paparazzo snapped a photo of the Grammy-winning singer changing behind his car. Nothing too explicit, but a peak of Usher’s thigh was revealed.

Usher on Friday joined the growing chorus of voices calling for Juneteenth to be declared a national holiday. The Grammy-winning singer laid out his argument for theproposal in a Washington Post op-ed.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorEight-time Grammy winner Usher Raymond penned an impassioned and informative essay in the Washington Post today arguing that, while the Fourth of July should be celebrated, for black people “Juneteenth is our authentic day of self-determination. It is ours to honor the legacy of our ancestors, ours to celebrate and ours to remember where we once were as a people.

Porsha Williams has completely grown since her days of being misinformed about the Underground Railroad. The Real Housewives of Atlanta fan favorite has penned a powerful essay about why every American should celebrate Juneteenth.

Usher is joining fellow music artists such as Pharrell Williams and Taylor Swift in calling for June 19 — a.k.a. Juneteenth — to become a national holiday in the U.S., commemorating the day that all slaves in the U.S. were finally freed.

mourn the loss of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and more victims of police brutality, many celebrities have taken this moment to advocate for making Juneteenth a nationally recognized holiday. In a lengthy Washington Post op-ed, Usher detailed how the significant day should be widely celebrated.“We could observe it, as many black Americans already do, by celebrating both our first step toward freedom as black people in America and also the many contributions to this land,” he wrote.

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterVeteran R&B singer Usher has penned a powerful essay stating reasons why Juneteenth should be considered a national holiday. An excerpt is posted below; you can read it in full at the Washington Post.“The liberation Juneteenth commemorates is cause for celebration, but it also reminds us how equality can be delayed.

Usher has written a powerful new essay calling for change on Juneteenth – the annual commemoration day to mark the emancipation of slavery in the US.Writing in the Washington Post to coincide with the day, Usher has called for politicians to recognise the day as a national holiday and for citizens to support black-owned business today and in the future.Under the headline ‘Why it’s so important that Juneteenth become a national holiday,’ Usher said the day should unite the US.

As protesters continue to rally against police brutality and racial inequality in the United States, Usher is joining their ranks and calling for change. The singer and activist, 41, penned a powerful op-ed for The Washington Post on July 19 — Juneteenth — laying out why the day commemorating the emancipation of slaves should become a national holiday.