President Biden will host a Juneteenth celebration on Monday night with headliners Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle, known as the “Empress of Soul” and “Godmother of Soul,” respectively.
Observed every June 19, Juneteenth has become a national celebration of freedom for black Americans. The holiday began as a regional remembrance of the day in 1865 when belated news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached Galveston, Texas.
The lineup of artists at the White House event also includes gospel singer Kirk Franklin, rapper Doug E. Fresh, country singer-songwriter Brittney Spencer and jazz artist Trombone Shorty.
The event is scheduled to begin at 7pm EDT.
Watch the live video above.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
