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CNN Live Event/Special
Joe Biden: We're The United States Of America; Jill Biden On Juneteenth; Joe Biden On Juneteenth. Aired 9-10p ET
Aired June 19, 2023 - 21:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[21:00:00]
(VIDEO -- JODECI -- "COME & TALK TO ME")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's time to get up. Everybody, come on you all.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Clap your hands.
Stomp your feet like this.
Clap your hands.
Stomp your feet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Like it.
(VIDEO -- JODECI -- " GET ON UP")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Juneteenth.
(VIDEO -- JODECI -- " GET ON UP")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know what? Everybody, do this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on.
(VIDEO -- JODECI -- " GET ON UP")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on, you all.
(VIDEO -- JODECI -- " GET ON UP")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on.
(VIDEO -- JODECI -- " GET ON UP")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on, you all.
(VIDEO -- JODECI -- " GET ON UP")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on. (VIDEO -- JODECI -- " GET ON UP")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We got to go.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We got to go, you all. We love you.
(VIDEO -- JODECI -- " GET ON UP")
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We will return with a moving performance, by the acclaimed saxophonist, Mike Phillips.
[21:05:00]
And still to come, performances by Davido, SWV, Nelly, and the legendary Charlie Wilson.
It's "JUNETEENTH: A GLOBAL CELEBRATION FOR FREEDOM."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLIFF "METHOD MAN" SMITH, ACTOR, POWER BOOK II: GHOST: Tonight, we gather for the first ever Juneteenth Celebration, at the White House.
PATINA MILLER, TONY AND GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING ARTIST: Juneteenth, to me, means freedom. It means remembering what came before us, and celebrating the long road to freedom, and the people still in the fight, today.
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: As the gospel song goes, "We've come too far from where we started. Nobody told me that the road would be easy. I don't believe He brought me this far to leave me."
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
CORBIN REID, ACTRESS, RUN THE WORLD: This is a historic moment.
SHANNON THORNTON, ACTRESS, P-VALLEY: This is the White House's first Juneteenth celebration.
JOE BIDEN: To me, making Juneteenth a federal holiday wasn't just a symbolic gesture. It was a statement of fact for this country.
BRANDEE EVANS, ACTRESS, P-VALLEY: I mean, we've been celebrating it for years. We've been waiting on everybody else to catch up.
BRESHA WEBB, ACTRESS, RUN THE WORLD: We're celebrating Juneteenth.
KAMALA HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We gather here, steps from where the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, to celebrate America's newest national holiday.
LARENZ TATE, ACTOR, POWER BOOK II: GHOST: It's a star-studded event.
JOSEPH SIKORA, ACTOR, POWER BOOK IV: FORCE: How can I not be here? It's a celebration.
(VIDEO -- THE MAGNIFICENT MARCHING MACHINE, MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY MARCHING BAND)
J. ALPHONSE NICHOLSON, ACTOR, P-VALLEY: I think celebrating community and culture, on a national stage, is very important.
[21:10:00]
WEBB: I am here, celebrating my ancestors.
AMBER STEVENS WEST, ACTRESS, RUN THE WORLD: It's really nice that we get to be here, today, to celebrate Juneteenth. This has been a very important holiday, in the Black culture, for a long time.
JOE BIDEN: Imagine what this fight would have been like without the voice of the community.
Thank you. Thank you. You full my heart in a way you do (ph).
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
GAIL BEAN, ACTRESS, P-VALLEY: Being able to celebrate Juneteenth, at the White House, shows that the White House is taking the lead, on how we should operate, in togetherness and love and freedom of each other.
JOE BIDEN: We're the United States of America, and there's nothing -- nothing beyond our capacity when we act together.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everyone, please welcome Jimmy Jam.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
(MUSIC)
JIMMY JAM, MUSICIAN, SONGWRITER & PRODUCER: Hey.
Happy Juneteenth everybody.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
JAM: Now, it's rare when a saxophonist achieves global superstardom. But that's exactly what Mike Phillips has done. And he is here, tonight -- he's here tonight, to perform some hits that we all love, by the legends, Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
JAM: But first, my boy, Adam Blackstone, who's been up here playing, with all the artists that you've seen here, tonight.
(AUDIENCE APPLAUSE)
JAM: Now, he just dropped his debut album, "Legacy." And he's going to perform a song, for you, right now.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
JAM: Come on, Adam.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
(MUSIC)
ADAM BLACKSTONE, MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST: What's up L.A.?
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
BLACKSTONE: We're going to celebrate, tonight, and have a good day. You know what I'm saying?
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
BLACKSTONE: And these are the five for you (ph).
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
(MUSIC)
BLACKSTONE: So, you've got the rock disc (ph).
"When I wake up in the morning, love."
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
BLACKSTONE: "And the sunlight hurts my eyes."
Oh, I know you know this, bro.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS)
BLACKSTONE: "And heavy without a warning, love Bears heavy on my mind"
To the foreman (ph).
BLACKSTONE: But "Then I look at you."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "Then I look at you."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "Then I look at you."
BLACKSTONE: "And the world's alright with me"
(VIDEO -- ADAM BLACKSTONE & THE BBE ALL-STAR BAND -- "LOVELY DAY")
BLACKSTONE: What's it going to be you all?
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
(VIDEO -- ADAM BLACKSTONE & THE BBE ALL-STAR BAND -- "LOVELY DAY")
BLACKSTONE: I see you move.
(VIDEO -- ADAM BLACKSTONE & THE BBE ALL-STAR BAND -- "LOVELY DAY")
BLACKSTONE: You all know what I'm talking about over there.
(VIDEO -- ADAM BLACKSTONE & THE BBE ALL-STAR BAND -- "LOVELY DAY")
BLACKSTONE: One more time. What's it going to be you all?
(VIDEO -- ADAM BLACKSTONE & THE BBE ALL-STAR BAND -- "LOVELY DAY")
BLACKSTONE: Hello New Orleans, clap you all, real quick. You know what I'm saying?
(VIDEO -- ADAM BLACKSTONE & THE BBE ALL-STAR BAND -- "LOVELY DAY")
BLACKSTONE: My man, Randy Bowland, on guitar. Let me get some good song, Randy.
[21:15:00]
(VIDEO -- ADAM BLACKSTONE & THE BBE ALL-STAR BAND -- "LOVELY DAY")
BLACKSTONE: You all got, one more time, to help me.
(VIDEO -- ADAM BLACKSTONE & THE BBE ALL-STAR BAND -- "LOVELY DAY")
BLACKSTONE: I see you all rocking up top.
(VIDEO -- ADAM BLACKSTONE & THE BBE ALL-STAR BAND -- "LOVELY DAY")
BLACKSTONE: One more time on the hook. Help me out you all.
(VIDEO -- ADAM BLACKSTONE & THE BBE ALL-STAR BAND -- "LOVELY DAY")
BLACKSTONE: Wait a minute. I see some church folks, in the middle, Gus (ph).
(VIDEO -- ADAM BLACKSTONE & THE BBE ALL-STAR BAND -- "LOVELY DAY")
BLACKSTONE: Let's take them to church, real quick. Hold on, hold on.
(VIDEO -- ADAM BLACKSTONE & THE BBE ALL-STAR BAND -- "LOVELY DAY")
BLACKSTONE: I need everybody up. Here we go. It's going to be like this.
(VIDEO -- ADAM BLACKSTONE & THE BBE ALL-STAR BAND -- "LOVELY DAY")
BLACKSTONE: What's it going to be? You all saying.
(VIDEO -- ADAM BLACKSTONE & THE BBE ALL-STAR BAND -- "LOVELY DAY")
BLACKSTONE: What's it going to be?
Let me hear you.
(VIDEO -- ADAM BLACKSTONE & THE BBE ALL-STAR BAND -- "LOVELY DAY")
(MUSIC)
BLACKSTONE: Clearly, my boy, Ty (ph) could be like, just like Jesus returned, got holding in the wine (ph). I just want you all to -- I don't know that. So, what's it going to be?
(VIDEO -- ADAM BLACKSTONE & THE BBE ALL-STAR BAND -- "LOVELY DAY")
BLACKSTONE: They're not ready. They're not ready. They don't want to go to church.
(VIDEO -- ADAM BLACKSTONE & THE BBE ALL-STAR BAND -- "LOVELY DAY")
BLACKSTONE: I see you, D (ph).
(VIDEO -- ADAM BLACKSTONE & THE BBE ALL-STAR BAND -- "LOVELY DAY")
BLACKSTONE: Are you all rocking with me?
(VIDEO -- ADAM BLACKSTONE & THE BBE ALL-STAR BAND -- "LOVELY DAY")
BLACKSTONE: Thank you, L.A.
(VIDEO -- ADAM BLACKSTONE & THE BBE ALL-STAR BAND -- "LOVELY DAY")
BLACKSTONE: Hey, man. Let me get a little bit of this.
(MUSIC)
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
BLACKSTONE: Let me bring the whole thing in (ph).
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
(MUSIC)
BLACKSTONE: Last time, you all.
(MUSIC)
BLACKSTONE: Thank you, L.A.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
BLACKSTONE: My name is Adam Blackstone. You all ready to keep the party going?
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
BLACKSTONE: Introducing my brother, Mike Phillips, you all.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
(MUSIC)
(VIDEO -- MIKE PHILLIPS -- "I FEEL FOR YOU")
MIKE PHILLIPS, MUSICIAN: Yo. Show some love for the PBE (ph) all- stars.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
PHILLIPS: Yo Abbott (ph), we got to take it back.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
PHILLIPS: They don't let the musicians play.
(MUSIC)
PHILLIPS: Let's take it back to 1976.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
PHILLIPS: One of the greatest albums of all time, Songs In The Key Of Life, let's do some Stevie. Let's go.
[21:20:00]
(VIDEO -- MIKE PHILLIPS -- "CONTUSION")
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
(VIDEO -- MIKE PHILLIPS -- "CONTUSION")
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
PHILLIPS: Sax, man, this is my baby, right here.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
(MUSIC)
PHILLIPS: And this is a beautiful song, "Lady in My Life."
(VIDEO -- MIKE PHILLIPS -- "THE LADY IN MY LIFE")
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
(VIDEO -- MIKE PHILLIPS -- "THE LADY IN MY LIFE")
PHILLIPS: Give it to me on the one.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
(VIDEO -- MIKE PHILLIPS -- "THE LADY IN MY LIFE")
PHILLIPS: I need to hear you. Happy Juneteenth.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
(VIDEO -- MIKE PHILLIPS -- "THE LADY IN MY LIFE")
[21:25:00]
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
(MUSIC)
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
(MUSIC)
PHILLIPS: Everybody let us party (ph).
(MUSIC)
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
PHILLIPS: Happy Juneteenth. I love you.
(MUSIC)
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
PHILLIPS: Sending chocolates.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: After the break, a live performance, by global sensation, Davido.
Plus, a special performance by Tank, of Tank and the Bangas.
And later, Chloe and Big Freedia take the stage, when our Juneteenth: Celebration for Freedom continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ABDUL ABDULLAH, FOUNDER, AFROFUTURE FESTIVAL: People tend to think about Africa, like as one country, where they have 54 different countries, several different experiences, within each country. Now, we don't have anywhere we can go, and celebrate these cultures. And we've created one to be able to do that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Across the world, there are communities of African descent that make up the Global Diaspora, with one of the highest concentrations, being in the United States.
[21:30:00]
Through curated experiences, such as the AfroFuture Festival, in Ghana, a new space is being created, for Black folks, to return to the continent, for what feels like a multi-century delayed family reunion.
ABDULLAH: We're in a very unique time, where everybody wants to have a greater education about themselves. Black people have different experiences, across the world, but similar experiences. You're not alone in the world.
AfroFuture Festival, for us, was an opportunity to bring together the Black diaspora. They feel seen, as soon as they touch down on the ground.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The art, culture and music of the motherland, is creating an energy that is now re-centering Africa's presence in the world. Now, a multibillion-dollar industry, Afrobeats Music is playing a key role, in the global spotlight being put on the continent.
ABDULLAH: We wanted our music to become world music. And now, you're hearing new sounds that are changing your perspective. So, it's pretty exciting. And I think there is a connection between the diaspora connecting, and the music taking off.
Our powers, as the global Black diasporas, within each other, and the more we get to know each other is the more that we're able to really hone that power.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Greek Theatre, please welcome multi-platinum Nigerian superstar Davido.
(MUSIC)
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
DAVIDO, AMERICAN-NIGERIAN SINGER-SONGWRITER: What's up L.A.?
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
(MUSIC)
(VIDEO -- DAVIDO -- "FALL")
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
(VIDEO -- DAVIDO -- "FALL")
DAVIDO: Make some noise, L.A.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE) DAVIDO: Let's go and do some new music.
(VIDEO -- DAVIDO -- "FEEL")
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
[21:35:00]
(VIDEO -- DAVIDO -- "FEEL")
DAVIDO: Make some noise for the composers, for doing it in L.A.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
(MUSIC)
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
(MUSIC)
DAVIDO: You know?
(MUSIC)
DAVIDO: If you know this song, on one.
(VIDEO -- DAVIDO -- "UNAVAILABLE")
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
(VIDEO -- DAVIDO -- "UNAVAILABLE")
DAVIDO: Say what?
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
(VIDEO -- DAVIDO -- "UNAVAILABLE")
DAVIDO: Everybody put your hands up like this.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
(VIDEO -- DAVIDO -- "UNAVAILABLE")
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When we come back, Supergroup SWV takes the stage.
And later, performances by Nelly and Charlie Wilson.
It's "JUNETEENTH: A GLOBAL CELEBRATION FOR FREEDOM."
[21:40:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Welcome back to JUNETEENTH: A GLOBAL CELEBRATION FOR FREEDOM."
You may know her from her chart-topping viral music. Please welcome Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter, Muni Long.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
MUNI LONG, SINGER-SONGWRITER: To be a sister, with a voice, within the Melanated community, we collectively understand that this is a gift that comes with much responsibility.
Sisters with Voices have been tasked with carrying us through our heartbreak, our breakthroughs, our loves, our losses, and our triumphs.
It's an honor to be here, celebrating Melanated music, as part of CNN's "Juneteenth: Global Celebration For Freedom" concert.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
LONG: These three ladies have paved the way, for a girl like me, with the voice of a diva, and a mouth full of gold (ph), and became one of the best-selling girl groups of all time.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
LONG: Here to perform a medley of some of the songs, we have all saying, for hours and hours.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
LONG: Please welcome the Sisters with Voices, SWV.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
(MUSIC)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What up everybody. SWV.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get up on your feet, tonight.
We got you real livefest (ph) for Juneteenth.
Hey.
(VIDEO -- SWV -- "I'M SO INTO YOU")
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One more now (ph).
(VIDEO -- SWV -- "I'M SO INTO YOU")
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can we bring it now?
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
(VIDEO -- SWV -- "I'M SO INTO YOU")
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're going to bring it fast (ph).
(MUSIC)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We request to give it (ph) for SWV.
Hey.
[21:45:00]
(VIDEO -- SWV -- "RIGHT HERE")
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We want to thank you all, for making this song, number one, for us.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You all help us sing it tonight.
(VIDEO -- SWV -- "WEAK")
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now, I want you all to help me sing this one. Is that all right? Sing it to me now.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yay.
(VIDEO -- SWV -- "WEAK")
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sing it you all.
(AUDIENCE SINGING)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What did I tell you?
(AUDIENCE SINGING)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everybody, now.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sing it, Lelee.
(AUDIENCE SINGING)
(VIDEO -- SWV -- "WEAK")
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You all ready to party tonight? Come on, time to hit one tune.
[21:50:00]
(VIDEO -- SWV -- "ANYTHING")
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Coming up, a special Juneteenth message, from President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden.
Then, Chloe performs a heartfelt tribute to Tina Turner, when "JUNETEENTH: A GLOBAL CELEBRATION FOR FREEDOM" returns.
[21:55:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And now, a special message, from the President, and first lady, of the United States.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOE BIDEN: One of the great honors I've had, as your President, was signing the law, making Juneteenth, a national holiday, the first new federal holiday since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, nearly four decades ago.
JILL BIDEN, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES, JOE BIDEN'S WIFE: Two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, 250,000 enslaved people, in Texas, finally learned that they were free.
Juneteenth celebrates the joy of freedom, of holding on to hope, of the struggle for equality, of the power and strength of this community.
JOE BIDEN: We're the only nation in the world founded on an idea that we're all created equal in the image of God and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. Juneteenth is a reminder of that essential truth.
JILL BIDEN: Juneteenth was not just an ending. It was a new beginning, a second independence, one for all Americans that begin a new chapter, in our fight, for equality and justice.
JOE BIDEN: And on this day, we remember, we must not rest until we deliver a true promise of America to all Americans.
JILL BIDEN: We hope you enjoy this amazing festival of music.
Happy Juneteenth, America.
JOE BIDEN: Happy Juneteenth, America.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In honor of the late legend, Tina Turner, performing "What's Love Got to Do with It," please welcome Chloe.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
(MUSIC)
CHLOE BAILEY, AMERICAN SINGER-SONGWRITER: Rest in Power to the great Tina Turner.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
BAILEY: This one's for you. I love you.
(VIDEO -- CHLOE -- "WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT")
BAILEY: Sing it you all.
(VIDEO -- CHLOE -- "WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT")
BAILEY: Everybody, clap your hands, like this, for me.
(AUDIENCE CLAPPING)
(VIDEO -- CHLOE -- "WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT")
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
BAILEY: Thank you. Happy Juneteenth.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Up next, an unforgettable performance, by Big Freedia, that's sure to get you up out of your seats.
And later, Nelly performs all of his hits.
It's "JUNETEENTH: A GLOBAL CELEBRATION FOR FREEDOM."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
