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CNN Live Event/Special
Juneteenth, A Global Celebration For Freedom. Aired 10-11p ET
Aired June 19, 2022 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[22:01:33]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On June 19, 1865, the first Juneteenth was celebrated, Black Americans were finally free to build the lives they envisioned for themselves. But with the heart of America still steeped in hatred, thriving black cities like Tulsa, Oklahoma, rosewood, Florida and Slocum, Texas were destroyed by violent acts of racial terrorism. These unpunished acts along with discriminatory policies across every sector sends a clear message to African Americans that this system was not built for us.
Despite systemic barriers set to limit financial freedom, black pioneers continue to emerge. Notable entrepreneur Maggie L. Walker became the first black woman founder and president of St. Luke Penny Savings Bank, one of the oldest African American run banks in U..S history. Today, the black dollar is stronger than ever. With global support of black entrepreneurs and artists, cultural leaders are creating new opportunities for black people to build wealth and legacy. Through the company on our own, David Gross and D Smoke have partnered to keep Broadway boxing gym, a black owned business in South L.A.
D SMOKE, ARTIST, EDUCATOR: I think Broadway boxing gym represents an entirely different type of wealth. It's experiential wealth. It's a wealth of culture, and the people who have grown up both, you know, over time, but also personally have grown and matured in that space, I think is something worth preserving
DAVID GROSS, ENTREPRENEUR: On our own as a business concept will be an investment platform that will allow crowdfunded investment from Mom- and-Pop investors to invest in great ideas and black communities. And specifically focused on investment in black communities by black people.
SMOKE: The partnership with David Gross and own our own at Broadway Boxing Gym is a huge part of creating a space for people to grow.
GROSS: For us to buy the gym, we first had to take it out of default, and the bank was going to take it and sell it. So as buyers, we stepped in, we put up money to take the seller out of default, so they wouldn't lose it.
SMOKE: To introduce this idea to the community of where wealth starts and how it's built and sustain.
GROSS: There's a lot of optimism and hope right now. And that the change that we always wanted to see and the things that we want for the future that are being made by people right now.
SMOKE: In music, and in art, and as well as modeling that in some of the efforts that we're making any community I think that'll be just my small contribution to our culture.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Leslie Jones.
LESLIE JONES, COMEDIAN AND ACTRESS: What's up, Hollywood Bowl. Great people in Hollywood Bowl. Whoo-hoo. So this next group that I'm bringing up, I love them since they came out, I'm telling you. Now, I'm not saying they the reason that I got bad knees, but I was smacking it out. Read out. And let me tell you, I knew I was going to marry Ronnie DeVoe. I knew I was going to be Mrs. Ronnie DeVoe. But the everybody knew that I was poison.
(CHEERING & APPLAUSE)
[22:05:02]
That's why it didn't work it out, but tonight I get to bring them up and I present to you live on stage is the iconic Bell Biv DeVoe.
(MUSIC)
(BELL BIV DEVOE, "I THOUGHT IT WAS ME?")
(BELL BIV DEVOE, "POISON")
[22:10:00]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you so much.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Inaudible) I love you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Happy Father's Day and Juneteenth.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We will return with a special Juneteenth message from President Joe Biden and Ne-Yo takes the stage. And later, we lift our voices with Mary Mary, Michelle Williams and Anthony Hamilton. It's Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[22:15:27]
JOE BIDEN, (D) U.S. PRESIDENT: Happy Juneteenth, everyone. One of the great honors I've had as president was the sign the bill making Juneteenth, a national holiday for the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Day, nearly four decades ago. And it matters. It matters to me and it matters to the country. Juneteenth marks both the long, hard night of slavery and subjugation and the promise of a brighter morning to come. A day of profound weight and power that reminds us of extraordinary capacity to heal and hope and emerge the most painful moments and a better version of ourselves.
You know, great nations don't -- they just don't ignore the most painful moments in their history. They embrace them to heal and grow stronger. And we're a great nation. But it's simply not enough to commemorate Juneteenth, for emancipation did not mark the end of America work to deliver on the promise of equality. It only marked the beginning to honor the true meaning of Juneteenth we must never rest until we deliver the promise of America to all Americans, all Americans that should come on in our administration are committed to do and that's why today's concert so important. So it's time to celebrate, to educate and to act. God bless you all. And Happy Juneteenth.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Journalist, Cari Champion.
CARI CHAMPION, BROADCAST JOURNALIST AND TV PERSONALITY: How's everybody doing? First off, let me say and I know you've heard this all day today, can we give a shout out to all the fathers who are enjoying themselves right now. Happy Father's Day. I'm watching you from backstage and you're enjoying yourself. So this is why what's coming up next is going to be the best for you. Our next performer is the definition of a triple threat he is definitely afraid viewer of mine, a Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter, producer, not to mention a talented actor and arguably one of the best dancers we have ever seen in entertainment everybody put your hands together for Ne- Yo.
(CHEERING & APPLAUSE)
NE-YO: Happy Juneteenth, everybody.
(MUSIC)
(NE-YO, "MISS INDEPENDENT")
(NE-YO, "BECAUSE OF YOU")
[22:20:00]
(CHEERING & APPLAUSE)
(NE-YO, "GIVE ME EVERYTHING")
NE-YO: Happy Juneteenth, everybody. My name is Ne-Yo, thank you for watching with me. I appreciate (inaudible).
(CHEERING & APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: After the break it's finally time, it's the Earth, Wind & Fire celebration you've been waiting for. Stay tuned.
[22:25:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Welcome back to Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom. And welcome to the stage actor Miles Brown joined by his father Jack Brown.
MILES BROWN, ACTOR: Look, you're going to want to stay tuned for this one, this the one I've been waiting for a minute, so you're going to staying for this.
Now look, today is Juneteenth but we couldn't let the day go by without wishing a Happy Father's Day to all the amazing fathers. Can we give a round of applause for all the fathers out there?
(CHEERING & APPLAUSE)
M. BROWN: Happy Father's Day by the way, dad.
JACK BROWN, MILES BROWN'S FATHER: Thank you, son. It's an honor to be you and all the fathers. But right now it's also an honor to celebrate the next tonight's performer.
M. BROWN: Yeah, so look now Earth, Wind & Fire. These are three words that have become synonymous with good music, good vibes and overall funk. Now with over 90 million records sold worldwide, they've been spreading the uplifting message of hope, love and respect for over 50 years and they're here tonight to do what they do best. So it is my pleasure to introduce one of the greatest bands of all time, Earth, Wind & Fire.
J. BROWN: Let's go.
(MUSIC)
[22:30:00]
(MUSIC)
[22:39:42]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Coming up, our show concludes with an all-star gospel performance from Michelle Williams, Mary Mary, and Anthony Hamilton. It's Juneteenth, a global celebration for freedom.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please welcome actor and activist, Kendrick Sampson.
KENDRICK SAMPSON, ACTOR AND ACTIVIST: What's up? What's up? What's up you all? My name is Kendrick Sampson. I'm from eighth time (ph), Houston, Texas. You already know what it is. Juneteenth has a special place in my heart. It is my favorite holiday. And you all know gospel music has always been an empowering and driving force in the fight for freedom. The black church often provided a safe haven and organizing for our liberation. This holiday is a reminder that we don't stop until no one is left in bondage. This year, Juneteenth falls on Sunday. So you all know, we got to take it to church.
[22:44:59]
Get on your feet for Michelle Williams, Anthony Hamilton, and Mary Mary.
(MUSIC)
[22:54:07]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The celebration isn't over yet. Our Juneteenth Celebration at the Hollywood Bowl continues right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Our Juneteenth Celebration isn't quite over yet. To close us out for the evening, give it up for Tisha Campbell.
TISHA CAMPBELL, AMERICAN ACTRESS: It has been an amazing evening hasn't it? And thank you to all the amazing performers and special guests who joined us tonight. And thank you to everybody at the Hollywood Bowl.
Now, of course Juneteenth is just one day out of the year, but remember black freedom is worth celebrating and fighting for not just once a year not just once a month but every single day. So once again to take us home it's Michelle Williams, Anthony Hamilton, and Mary Mary. Good night everybody.
(MUSIC)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everybody up on your feet.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everybody get up, get up, get up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everybody get up.
[22:59:15]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can we talk a little bit in here with you all?
(MUSIC)
