BET interviewed Sampson by phone to talk about the added importance of Juneteenth this year and how his work and activism intersect.
Juneteenth was always my favorite holiday because I grew up knowing that Independence Day was a bs holiday that wasn’t for black people, our ancestors who were not free.
So, filming Miss Juneteenth, it was nice to have a chance to highlight the culture that I grew up in and something that's very specific to Texas
BET: With so much focus on systemic racism today and lots of people just now learning about Juneteenth, how would you suggest people celebrate or acknowledge the day?
I'm excited because Juneteenth is my favorite holiday, it’s when Miss Juneteenth comes out and it's going to be the biggest Juneteenth that has ever happened in the history of the United States.
Miss Juneteenth starring Nicole Beharie, Kendrick Sampson, and Alexis Chikaeze premieres on June 19th (Juneteenth) Digital and On Demand and will be available on all the major digital and VOD providers.