ABC News Set to Air Juneteenth Primetime Special

ABC News will present a primetime special this Friday in commemoration of Juneteenth.

The special titled Juneteenth: A Celebration of Overcoming, will emphasize the symbolism of June 19, 1865, the day that enslaved people in Texas learned about the Emancipation Proclamation marking the end of slavery in the state.

The special is set to air from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. (EST) and will look at the history of the holiday, in addition to Black spirituality and faith, and the struggles that African Americans faced in terms of voting rights and passing anti-lynching legislation.

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The one-hour production will feature several guests, including The View‘s Whoopi Goldberg, as well as ABC News journalists Linsey Davis, Bryon Pitts, Janai Norman, TJ Holmes, Steve Osunsami, and Deborah Roberts.

“Juneteenth is a day celebrated and commemorated around the country by millions of Americans,” executive producer Catherine McKenzie said in a statement Tuesday. “For a lot of people, including myself, it’s a day of serious reflection and observance of the struggles of all those who came before us.”

Juneteenth: A Celebration of Overcoming is set to air this Friday, June 19 on ABC.

News of the special comes just days after ABC News announced a top executive was placed on administrative leave while the network investigates claims made in a HuffPost report alleging the exec had a history of making racist remarks.

Barbara Fedida, senior vice president of talent, editorial strategy and business, oversees hiring and diversity for the network. The report alleged she made racist comments in front of other employees and tried to thwart diversity efforts, yet complaints about her behavior went ignored.


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