Usher celebrates Juneteenth instead of Independence Day at Essence Festival

theGRIO REPORT - Usher, the headlining act at this years Essence Festival, chose to make quite the statement during his Saturday evening performance. The singer dawned a leather jacket that read, "Have we truly achieved our independence?" written on the back and a "Juneteenth" t-shirt with "July Fourth" crossed out during the independence day set.

Richard Scott Brookshire III

Jul 6, 2015

Usher, the headlining act at this year’s Essence Festival, chose to make quite the statement during his Saturday evening performance.

The singer dawned a leather jacket that read, “Have we truly achieved our independence?” written on the back and a “Juneteenth” t-shirt with “July Fourth” crossed out during the independence day set. Juneteenth, the day (June 19th) that celebrates black emancipation from slavery, isn’t an official federal holiday, but — according to Usher’s T-Shirt — it’s the only day worth celebrating when it comes to independence. Both the leather jacket and t-shirt were custom-designed by Kirby Jean-Raymond for luxury sportswear brand PyerMoss.

A photo posted by Usher (@howuseeit) on Jul 5, 2015 at 1:43am PDT

JUNETEENTH, also known as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day is a holiday in the United States that commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas on June 19th 1865, and more generally the emancipation of African-American slaves throughout the Confederate South. #HappyBelatedIndependenceDay #Juneteenth #June19 #1865

A photo posted by Usher (@howuseeit) on Jul 3, 2015 at 4:41pm PDT