Latest news with #LiftEveryVoiceandSing
Chicago Tribune
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Juneteenth in Naperville celebrates freedom while focusing on importance of diversity, inclusion, organizers say
Naperville's fourth annual Juneteenth celebration, commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, will be held Saturday at Rotary Hill Park. The free noon-to-3 p.m. event will feature food, music, guest speakers, exhibitors and more, said Naperville City Councilman Benny White, founder of the Naperville Neighbors United, which organizes the gathering. 'Each year seems to get a little bit better,' White said. Juneteenth celebrates June 19, 1865, the day on which Union soldiers brought word to Galveston, Texas, that the war had ended and enslaved people had been freed. It was the last part of the country to be notified of President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. Saturday's events will kick off with the Black national anthem, 'Lift Every Voice and Sing,' sung by 15-year-old Naperville student Isabella 'Isa' Rose. Speakers include White, U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville; state Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, D-Naperville; state Rep. Janet Yang Rohr, D-Naperville; Judy Brodhead, chairwoman of Naperville's Special Events and Community Arts Commission; and Geneace Williams, manager of Naperville's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion department. '(Williams) will be sharing a brief history of Juneteenth,' said event Chair Kim White, who's married to Benny White. In addition to food available for sale, there also will be more than 30 exhibitors on hand, Kim White said. Among them will be Naper Settlement, Naperville Park District, Naperville's League of Women Voters, the Naperville police and fire departments, Grow Wellness Group Foundation, Fry Family YMCA, 360 Youth Services, Naperville Public Library and Indian Prairie School District 204. The group Soul 2 the Bone will perform. 'We would love for people to bring a lawn chair and be ready to celebrate Juneteenth and listen to some great music and maybe get up and do a little dancing,' Kim White said. While a time to celebrate, the event is also an important one for the growing community of Naperville, Benny White said. 'Everyone recognizes that Naperville is one of the top cities to live in,' he said. 'It's become more and more diverse and we really want to celebrate that diversity. It's in our mission statement to be an inclusive community that celebrates diversity and this is one of those ways that we can do it.' It's also an opportunity for community members to meet and learn about each other, he said. 'I think we all recognize and know what Juneteenth is all about … but it's not just for African Americans,' White said. 'This is something that is inclusive for everyone. I've always been one to say it's not just Black history, it's American history, and I think it's something we should all celebrate.' And that's more important now than ever, he added. 'When you see what is going on around the country, diversity, equity and inclusion has really been under attack,' he said. 'For me, in order to really practice diversity, equity and inclusion, we all have to learn about each other and this is another way we can do that. It helps break stereotypes that people have from hearsay or what they see on the news or how it's displayed on television.' Talking to people different from yourself helps promote understanding and foster trust in the community, he said. Multicultural events like Juneteenth, Halal Fest, the India Day parade, the Naperville Hispanic Festival, the Asian Heritage Festival and others will move the community forward and raise awareness of these cultures, he said. 'We are a very diverse community that is becoming more diverse over the years,' White said. 'There will be a point when we are projected to be a majority-minority community. And that's nothing to be afraid of, let's embrace it.' Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom and a powerful reminder of a people who endured unimaginable hardship and the continued work required to ensure equity and inclusion for all, Kim White said. 'I think by honoring Juneteenth, we are affirming that Black history is American history and the pursuit of freedom and justice must be a shared commitment,' she
Fox News
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Black national anthem divides fans before NFL Draft
Before the Tennessee Titans officially selected Cam Ward with the No. 1 pick of the NFL Draft on Thursday night, the Black national anthem was performed on stage in Green Bay. The James Weldon Johnson Foundation's "National Hymn Choir" sang "Lift Every Voice and Sing." NFL fans waiting for the draft to begin took it all in before NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Green Bay Packers greats and Lil' Wayne came out on stage. Social media were left bewildered by the rendition. The Black national anthem has been a mainstay for NFL events since the 2020 season, following a summer of racial tensions across the U.S. The song has been performed at Super Bowls and draft events. Ledisi, a Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter, performed the song before Super Bowl LIX before the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. The NAACP began to promote "Lift Every Voice and Sing" as the Black national anthem in 1917. Ward was the No. 1 pick in the draft after a solid performance with the Miami Hurricanes in his final season in college. The Jacksonville Jaguars then traded up with the Cleveland Browns to select Travis Hunter. The New York Giants selected Abdul Carter, and the New England Patriots took Will Campbell. The Browns decided to take Mason Graham to round out the top five. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Daily Mail
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS NFL fans fume over 'gentrified' rendition of black national anthem at 2025 draft
The NFL choral rendition of the so-called 'black national anthem' at the 2025 Draft had fans seething. A Milwaukee-based choir, the James Weldon Johnson Foundation's 'National Hymn Choir', performed 'Lift Every Voice and Sing,' ahead of the draft in Green Bay Thursday night. The choral arrangement was accompanied by a simple pianist in front of the throngs of fans gathered at Lambeau Stadium. But fans back home were left seething over the 'gentrified' rendition of the song. 'They got whites singing Lift Every Voice and Sing? They done gentrified the Black national anthem,' one furious social media user posted.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Here's a look at the schedule for opening day of the NFL Draft in Green Bay
Fans are arriving in Green Bay as the NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday. Events are scheduled throughout the day, including prospects walking the red carpet on Lambeau Field. If you're not in Green Bay, you can still watch the NFL Draft, which will be televised across multiple platforms. Here's what you need to know about Thursday's opening day schedule. Red carpet: The evening begins with prospects walking the red carpet on Lambeau Field at about 4 p.m., as fans watch from the stadium bleachers. Portions will be televised as part of NFL Network's 'NFL Draft Kickoff' with Kimmi Chex interviewing prospects. Opening festivities from the draft stage: A Wisconsin-based youth choir will perform 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey Redding. Singer-songwriter Stephen Wilson Jr., from rural southern Indiana, will perform the national anthem. The Wisconsin Army National Guard will conduct a flyover of Lambeau Field and the Draft Theater with four Black Hawk helicopters. Packers legends and current players will join NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to welcome fans. Chances of thunderstorms and showers are forecasted for early morning Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. The first day of the draft is expected to see temperatures in the low 60s and a light breeze of up to 10 miles per hour. Forecasters are predicting rain on April 25 after 5 a.m. with skies clearing up early to mid-afternoon, according to the NWS. The NFL Draft starts April 24 and runs through April 26. You can find more NFL Draft coverage here. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: NFL Draft 2025: Opening day Thursday schedule in Green Bay
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
UW Marching Band, Jordy Nelson, bike parade, national anthem singer announced for NFL draft festivities at Lambeau
GREEN BAY - The NFL has announced a round of entertainment and other activities planned for the draft in Green Bay, but specifics are still to come on some on concert performers and other participants. Here's how the draft, which will be hosted April 24-26 by Lambeau Field and the Titletown district, is shaping up. Red carpet: The evening begins with prospects walking the red carpet on Lambeau Field at about 4 p.m., as fans watch from the stadium bleachers. Portions will be televised as part of NFL Network's 'NFL Draft Kickoff' with Kimmi Chex interviewing prospects. Opening festivities from the draft stage: A Wisconsin-based youth choir will perform 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey Redding. Singer-songwriter Stephen Wilson Jr., from rural southern Indiana, will perform the national anthem. The Wisconsin Army National Guard will conduct a flyover of Lambeau Field and the Draft Theater with four Black Hawk helicopters. Packers legends and current players will join NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to welcome fans. Thirty-two NFL legends and players from the 2000 draft class will announce selections to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the class. The evening will also spotlight legends and players with ties to Wisconsin. Participants include Lynn Swann, Jordy Nelson, Joe Thomas, Jonathan Taylor and Dante Hall. After the third round of selections, the evening will end with a drone show as part of the NFL Draft Concert Series. The final day of the draft will offer a family-friendly day of activities to celebrate Wisconsin's culture and community. Bike parade: Young fans can participate in the Green Bay tradition by riding their bikes around the NFL Draft Experience before gates open. NFL Farmer's Market: A celebration of local vendors, where fans can enjoy a taste of Wisconsin. Wisconsin Humane Society onstage puppy adoptions Military enlistment ceremony: A tribute to those who serve. Oneida Smoke Dancers University of Wisconsin Marching Band Polka band and dance group Cheese-carving demonstration: Artists transform cheese into intricate works of art. Packers legends: They'll share stories and memories of their time in Green Bay. Surprise celebrity guests: Appearances by 'beloved local personalities and celebrities.' NFL Draft Concert Series: The finale to the draft will be a free concert in the Draft Theater. The headliner will be announced in the coming days, according to the NFL release. It will be free, with admission on a first-come, first-served basis. More: From the curb to center stage, how a Wisconsin artist turned discarded furniture into 32 team logos for the NFL draft More: Here are the 68 Wisconsin vendors you'll find at a special edition of Saturday Farmers Market during the NFL draft The NFL draft is free to attend. Adults age 18 and up need to download the NFL OnePass app and register to attend. On OnePass, each adult can register up to five children to attend the draft with them. For those without a smartphone, you can sign up on a desktop computer, too. The NFL directs you to send an email to OnePass@ or to visit April 24 Draft Experience: noon-10 p.m. Draft Theater: 5-11 pm. April 25 Draft Experience: noon-10 p.m. Draft Theater: 5-11 p.m. April 26 Draft Experience: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Draft Theater: noon-7 p.m. Kendra Meinert is an entertainment and feature writer at the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact her at 920-431-8347 or kmeinert@ Follow her on X @KendraMeinert. This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: NFL announces anthem singer, bike parade for 2025 draft in Green Bay
