Juneteenth, the commemoration of the end of slavery in the US, will be celebrated this year by Black Americans amid a national reckoning on race prompted by the police killing of George Floyd and the sweeping protests that followed.

On June 1865, Major General Gordon Granger landed on Galveston Island in Texas, along with 2000 union troops, and announced the end of both the Civil War and slavery. "The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the executive of the United States, all slaves are free.'

For Texans, the first Juneteenth celebration started in 1866, with community-centric events, gatherings and feasts.

Juneteenth is likely to have a special significance this year with the killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta by white policemen. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/emancipation-day-juneteenth-and-its-significance-in-us-history-307011#portmanteau-306994">In Pics:&nbsp;Emancipation Day: Juneteenth and its significance in US history</a>

There is much discussion and introspection about race in America and racial injustice has become a part of the dinner table conversation.

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But like everything else, Juneteenth too has been stained by politics. US President Donald Trump claimed that he should be given the credit for throwing the spotlight on Juneteenth.

"I did something good: I made juneteenth very famous', this is what Trump told the US media. 
 
There's a lot of talk about Trump's first political rally since the coronavirus pandemic, which was originally supposed to be held today in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/think-about-it-as-a-celebration-trump-on-juneteenth-rally-305433">Also Read: 'Think about it as a celebration': Trump on Juneteenth rally</a> 
 
This is the same city which saw race riots 99 years ago on May 31, 1921. The incident referred to as the Tulsa race massacre or the Tulsa race riot, resulted in the deaths of over 300 people and is noted as one of the worst episodes of racial violence in US history.

The rally will now be held on Saturday and there is an uneasy calm in Tulsa ahead of the event. Experts fear that Trump's rally will worsen the racial unrest.

Juneteenth, the commemoration of the end of slavery in the US, will be celebrated this year by Black Americans amid a national reckoning on race prompted by the police killing of George Floyd and the sweeping protests that followed.

Juneteenth, the commemoration of the end of slavery in the US, will be celebrated this year by Black Americans amid a national reckoning on race prompted by the police killing of George Floyd and the sweeping protests that followed. On June 1865, Major General Gordon Granger landed on Galveston Island in Texas, along with 2000 union troops, and announced the end of both the Civil War and slavery. "The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the executive of the United States, all slaves are free.' For Texans, the first Juneteenth celebration started in 1866, with community-centric events, gatherings and feasts. Juneteenth is likely to have a special significance this year with the killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta by white policemen. In Pics: Emancipation Day: Juneteenth and its significance in US history There is much discussion and introspection about race in America and racial injustice has become a part of the dinner table conversation. But like everything else, Juneteenth too has been stained by politics. US President Donald Trump claimed that he should be given the credit for throwing the spotlight on Juneteenth. "I did something good: I made juneteenth very famous', this is what Trump told the US media. There's a lot of talk about Trump's first political rally since the coronavirus pandemic, which was originally supposed to be held today in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Also Read: 'Think about it as a celebration': Trump on Juneteenth rally This is the same city which saw race riots 99 years ago on May 31, 1921. The incident referred to as the Tulsa race massacre or the Tulsa race riot, resulted in the deaths of over 300 people and is noted as one of the worst episodes of racial violence in US history. The rally will now be held on Saturday and there is an uneasy calm in Tulsa ahead of the event. Experts fear that Trump's rally will worsen the racial unrest.

Juneteenth coincides with global protests against racial injustice this year

Country music group Lady Antebellum on Thursday changed its name to Lady A, saying it regretted its blindspot over the name`s association with a time of slavery in the United States. 
 
The trio, one of the most successful in country music, said in an open letter that they took the name 14 years ago after the Southern antebellum-style home where they took their first photos.

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"But we are regretful and embarrassed to say that we did not take into account the associations that weigh down this word referring to the period of history before the Civil War, which includes slavery. We are deeply sorry for the hurt this has caused and for anyone who has felt unsafe, unseen or unvalued," the group added. 
 
Antebellum is a term used to describe the culture in the Southern United States before the American Civil War when slavery was an accepted practice.

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The group, formed in Nashville in 2006 and best known for hit records like Grammy-winner 'Need You Now',&nbsp;said the change was made in response to mass protests over systemic racism in the United States spurred by the death of African-American George Floyd under the knee of a white police officer. 
 
"We've watched and listened more than ever these past few weeks, and our hearts have been stirred with conviction, our eyes opened wide to the injustices, inequality and biases black women and men have always faced and continue to face every day. Now, blindspots we didn`t even know existed have been revealed," the group added.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/coachella-announces-2021-music-festival-dates-after-abandoning-2020-editions-305282" hreflang="en">Coachella announces 2021 music festival dates after abandoning 2020 editions</a> 
 
The decision follows the withdrawal from the HBO Max streaming platform this week of Oscar-winning Civil War movie "Gone With the Wind" because of its depiction of racial prejudice at that time. 
 
Lady A is formed by singer Hillary Scott from Tennessee, guitarist Charles Kelley from North Carolina and guitar and piano player Dave Haywood from Georgia.

Country music group Lady Antebellum on Thursday changed its name to Lady A, saying it regretted its blindspot over the name`s association with a time of slavery in the United States.

Country music group Lady Antebellum on Thursday changed its name to Lady A, saying it regretted its blindspot over the name`s association with a time of slavery in the United States. The trio, one of the most successful in country music, said in an open letter that they took the name 14 years ago after the Southern antebellum-style home where they took their first photos. In pics: Shows that went off-air amid anti-racism protests "But we are regretful and embarrassed to say that we did not take into account the associations that weigh down this word referring to the period of history before the Civil War, which includes slavery. We are deeply sorry for the hurt this has caused and for anyone who has felt unsafe, unseen or unvalued," the group added. Antebellum is a term used to describe the culture in the Southern United States before the American Civil War when slavery was an accepted practice. Also read: Pierce Brosnan to headline sci-fi thriller 'Youth' The group, formed in Nashville in 2006 and best known for hit records like Grammy-winner 'Need You Now', said the change was made in response to mass protests over systemic racism in the United States spurred by the death of African-American George Floyd under the knee of a white police officer. "We've watched and listened more than ever these past few weeks, and our hearts have been stirred with conviction, our eyes opened wide to the injustices, inequality and biases black women and men have always faced and continue to face every day. Now, blindspots we didn`t even know existed have been revealed," the group added. Also read: Coachella announces 2021 music festival dates after abandoning 2020 editions The decision follows the withdrawal from the HBO Max streaming platform this week of Oscar-winning Civil War movie "Gone With the Wind" because of its depiction of racial prejudice at that time. Lady A is formed by singer Hillary Scott from Tennessee, guitarist Charles Kelley from North Carolina and guitar and piano player Dave Haywood from Georgia.

Country music's Lady Antebellum changes name because of slavery association

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