Usher Writes Powerful Op-Ed Urging That Juneteenth Become National Holiday: ‘This Country Must Change’

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.

Usher is celebrating Juneteenth this year with a call for making June 19 a national holiday. Juneteenth is the day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, and the singer says that he has been trying educate others about this topic for years.

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.

What shoes are fit for an 89-year-old woman trekking nearly 1,400 miles from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, D.C. to fight for Juneteenth, the day slavery ended in America, to be recognized as a national holiday?

Usher is using his platform to talk about the importance of Juneteenth, specifically, why it should be recognized as an official national holiday.June 19 commemorates the true ending of slavery in the United States. While Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation went into effect Jan.

Peter White Television EditorJuneteenth, the commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, was a focus for last night’s late-night talk shows.Many of the shows featured interviews and sketches based on today’s celebration with calls from hosts and guests calling for states to follow Virginia, New York and Texas and make it a national holiday.Jimmy Kimmel had Pharrell Williams on his ABC show.

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.

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.

Taylor Swift is calling for Juneteenth to be made a national holiday.

Recognize June 19 as a national holiday. Support black-owned businesses today and always. And brush up on your history.

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.

Recognize June 19 as a national holiday. Support black-owned businesses today and always. And brush up on your history.

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