"Stand Up" from the film Harriet performed by The U.S. Army Voices, with Sgt. 1st Class Adiza Jibril

On June 19th, 1865, @The U.S. Army arrived in Galveston, Texas, two and a half years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, with news that the Civil War ended along with slavery. Roughly 250,000 enslaved people gained their freedom. African Americans began to celebrate #Juneteenth (June + 19), also called Freedom Day, as early as 1866.

On Wednesday, June 16, 2021, Congress approved a bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday. The bill was signed into law by the President on June 18, 2021.

This weekend, reflect on this historical moment with The U.S. Army Chorus, featuring Sgt. 1st Class Adiza Jibril, as they perform "Stand Up" from the movie Harriet.

Special thanks to the ‪@NationalParkService‬ at Theodore Roosevelt Island for allowing us to film on the island. Did you know that Theodore Roosevelt Island, once a cotton plantation, was the training grounds for the 1st United States Colored Infantry? During the Civil War, Theodore Roosevelt Island was home to over 1,000 formerly enslaved people.

As we remember this day in history, let us come together, knowing that our people are our greatest strength.

#harriet #americanhistory #juneteenth