Usher has written a powerful new essay calling for change on Juneteenth –Ā theĀ annual commemoration day to mark the emancipation of slavery in the US.
Writing in theĀ 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 itās so important that Juneteenth become a national holiday,’ Usher said the day should unite the US. “It should be a national holiday, observed by all Americans,” he wrote.
āAs an artist, it is my duty to reflect the trying times in which we live. My heart is shattered by the ongoing injustices in this country, incited by its long history of racism that has led to deadly outcomes for too many of our people.Ā This country must change. And it must change quickly,” he continued.
āAs we celebrate today, letās stay open to possibility. Letās support black-owned businesses today and every day. Letās uplift our resilient history. Letās honour our people. Happy Juneteenth, America.ā

Earlier today, 12-year-old Keedron Bryantās a cappella song, āI Just Wanna Liveā was released to coincide with āJuneteenthā.
The video of Bryantās emotive performance, which was uploaded the day after Floyd died in police custody, soon went viral as a result of its powerful message and was shared by Barack Obama, LeBron James, Janet Jackson and Lupita Nyongāo. It has now been viewed on Instagram over 3.2 million times.
Speaking about the song and its reach, Bryant said he thought there was āstill hopeā¦that we can change the world.ā
In the song, Bryant sings: āIām a young black man, doing all that I can to stand/Oh, but when I look around, and I see whatās being done to my kind/Every day Iām being hunted as prey/My people donāt want no trouble.ā
As reported on Sky News, Chris Atlas from Warner Records spoke about how much the record āmovedā him when he first heard it.Ā He said: āI was already moved by the record, but hearing the vocals over the production, it just hit me in another way.
āI was like, āWow this is an amazing song.ā We should be a part of making sure the world hears this on a larger capacity but then also donate proceeds from the song to the right cause.Ā Thatās actually giving back and using music as a healing mechanism, which I truly believe it is.ā
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