Pharrell Says He Called Virginia's Governor About Making Juneteenth A State Holiday - Blavity

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Pharrell Says He Called Virginia's Governor About Making Juneteenth A State Holiday - Blavity

Academy Award-winning musician and Virginia Beach native Pharrell joined Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam in declaring Juneteenth as a state holiday last Tuesday. According to Rolling Stone, Pharrell made an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon where he shared that the collaboration between himself and Northam grew out of an understanding of how momentous the day is for the people of Virginia and Black people nationally. “So I called [Northam] and I just said, ‘Man, I just feel like this is important for not only your own legacy but for the legacy of Virginia,' he said. 'And if you would be willing to officiate this and make this a paid holiday, I will travel for the first time out of my house.’ … Because this is for not only me, but this is for my ancestors that absolutely came through on the hull of a ship in Virginia 400 years ago, over 401 years ago. So for me, this was incredibly symbolic and it’s necessary. Virginia became the second state to adopt the...

Source: Blavity News

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