- [Narrator] From the STCU performance space at KSPS PBS, it's "Inland Sessions."

It's a Juneteenth Jubilee with special performances by T.S The Solution.

♪ Entire winter, just needed some sun to shine ♪ - [Narrator] Shantell Jackson.

- Together.

Safe.

- [Narrator] Yolanda Kinlow-Jones and Alethea Dumas.

♪ My lord ♪ ♪ And be free ♪ - [Narrator] And the Calvary Baptist Church Choir.

Hosted by Kiantha Duncan.

♪ King Jesus ♪ ♪ No man can a hinder ♪ ♪ Hinder ♪ ♪ Hinder ♪ (jazzy trumpet tones) - Welcome and thank you for joining us for our "Inland Sessions" Juneteenth Celebration.

My name is Kiantha Duncan.

In his Emancipation Proclamation on January 1st, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared, "all persons held as slaves to be then, thenceforward and forever free."

This news took over two and a half years to reach the still-enslaved communities in Texas, arriving in the hands of a Union General on June 19th, 1865.

Juneteenth was first celebrated the very next year as Americans' second Independence Day.

♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Freedom ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Freedom ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Freedom ♪ ♪ Over me ♪ ♪ Over me ♪ ♪ And before I be a slave ♪ ♪ I'll be buried in my grave ♪ ♪ And go home to my Lord ♪ ♪ And be free ♪ ♪ No more weeping ♪ ♪ No more weeping ♪ ♪ No more weeping ♪ ♪ Over me ♪ ♪ Over me ♪ ♪ And before I be a slave ♪ ♪ I'll be buried in my grave ♪ ♪ And go home to my Lord ♪ ♪ And be free ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Freedom ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Freedom ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Freedom ♪ ♪ Over me ♪ ♪ Over me ♪ ♪ And before I be a slave ♪ ♪ And before I be a slave ♪ ♪ And before I be a slave ♪ ♪ I'll be buried in my grave ♪ ♪ I'll be buried in my grave ♪ ♪ I'll be buried in my grave ♪ ♪ And go home to my Lord ♪ ♪ And be free ♪ ♪ And go home to my Lord ♪ ♪ And be free ♪ ♪ And go home to my Lord ♪ ♪ And be free ♪ - In 2021, Juneteenth was declared a Federal holiday, acknowledging the painful legacy of slavery while encouraging a pathway forward towards real racial justice and equity in America.

Juneteenth is an opportunity to look backward and forward at the same time.

When communities come together and share, we become family and treating community as family is a cornerstone of understanding and celebrating the Juneteenth holiday.

- "Better Together."

Take the sum of us and divide it by class, race, ability.

The result is the haves and the have-nots, the rich and the poor.

Take that same number and divide it by race.

The result is Black and white.

Then take Black and white and divide it by more races.

Keep dividing the races until you reach the desired result.

Divide the sum of us by religion.

Keep dividing until you've reached the desired result.

Take that same number and divide it by him and her, they and them.

Divide and divide more.

Us versus them, divide more.

Keep dividing until all that are left are wreckage and fragments.

The sum of us divided against itself.

The result is one.

We can divide and divide against ourselves but the result is one.

We are one.

So take the fragments, weave them together.

Take the fragments, clear the wreckage.

Sacrifice yourself for ourselves.

Don't you know we are better together?

Weave through the pain with bloodied fingers, tired eyes and broken bodies.

Keep weaving for the reality that we are better together.

Even the fragments you don't like, bring them into the fold and weave them in.

Clear the wreckage and build with it.

Together, we can make the wreckage something beautiful.

Step outside of your insular facility.

Go to the forest where trees fall but because you are not there, you cannot hear them.

They are falling.

Go.

Listen.

Heal.

(relaxed electronic tones) - Give it to 'em, Spicy.

("Simple" by T.S The Solution and DJ Spicy Ketchup) ♪ Welcome ♪ ♪ The sweet sounds of ♪ (rhythmic chanting) ♪ T.S The Solution ♪ ♪ And DJ Spicy Ketchup ♪ ♪ But we gonna keep it simple ♪ ♪ Hey ♪ ♪ We don't gas on the tempo ♪ ♪ We don't gas on the tempo ♪ ♪ We don't ask for the info ♪ ♪ And we don't ask for the info ♪ ♪ We don't crash up ya disco ♪ ♪ And we don't crash up ya disco ♪ ♪ Just keep it calm, cool and simple ♪ ♪ We keep it calm, cool and simple ♪ ♪ We don't gas on the tempo ♪ ♪ We don't ask for the info ♪ ♪ Nah ♪ ♪ We don't crash up ya disco ♪ ♪ Nah ♪ ♪ Just keep it calm, cool and simple ♪ ♪ Check ♪ ♪ Simple ♪ ♪ Nothing complex about my complexion, I'm sun-kissed ♪ ♪ We don't funk at the functions over drunken assumptions ♪ ♪ Me no speak a da English ♪ ♪ We don't have the same seamstress ♪ ♪ Ain't cut from the same cloth ♪ ♪ My designer is genius ♪ ♪ Oh yeah, I'm in my mode ♪ ♪ Yeah, I'm in my feeling ♪ ♪ See you in your bag ♪ ♪ I handle business but never seen a reason to brag ♪ ♪ This is temporary, so before they write my obituary ♪ ♪ I'm gonna take some risks that seem a bit too scary ♪ ♪ I know rainy days ♪ ♪ Man, I'm from the PN Dub ♪ ♪ I waited in line cold and whew just to be in the club ♪ ♪ Her boyfriend trying to fight me 'cause I gave her a hug ♪ ♪ Even when faced with hatred, I gotta show real is love ♪ ♪ Keep it one hundo, seafood inside of my gumbo ♪ ♪ Peach cobbler made by my momma ♪ ♪ So make my plate super jumbo ♪ ♪ Family keeping me humble, catching me when I stumble ♪ ♪ Rather spit it than mumble ♪ ♪ But don't worry, we don't judge ♪ ♪ We don't gas on the tempo ♪ ♪ We don't gas on the tempo ♪ ♪ We don't ask for the info ♪ ♪ We don't ask for the info ♪ ♪ We don't crash up ya disco ♪ ♪ We don't crash up ya disco ♪ ♪ Keep it calm, cool and simple ♪ ♪ We keep it calm, cool and simple ♪ ♪ We don't crash up your tempo ♪ ♪ Nah, nah ♪ ♪ We don't ask for the info ♪ ♪ Nah, nah ♪ ♪ We don't crash up ya disco ♪ ♪ We don't crash up the disco ♪ ♪ Just keep it calm, cool and simple, simple ♪ ♪ If happiness is the way ♪ ♪ I'm a stray in search of direction ♪ ♪ My homies deal with depression ♪ ♪ This weather ain't known for helping ♪ ♪ Wish you could meet my perception ♪ ♪ Far from holy perfection ♪ ♪ But helps with any objections ♪ ♪ When looking at my reflection ♪ ♪ Spare me the sob, let the melody do its job ♪ ♪ The employee of every month ♪ ♪ Show the trophies all for the stunt ♪ ♪ Kick it hard as a punt ♪ ♪ Or them kickers back in the trunk ♪ ♪ Daddy slamming down dominoes, think he's Shaq for the dunk ♪ ♪ Oh, how precious the time to ease this pressure of mine ♪ ♪ Stressed the entire winter, just needed some sun to shine ♪ ♪ Depleted but not defeated ♪ ♪ This season's one of a kind ♪ ♪ Smell the evergreen pine ♪ ♪ Hit the chair and recline and I'm home ♪ ♪ Yeah, they gave me a throne that I don't think I deserve ♪ ♪ But hey, I'm down to get on ♪ ♪ Won't flick on the phone just to post and be known ♪ ♪ We just minding our own ♪ ♪ Some dos and don'ts from my dome ♪ ♪ 'Cause we don't gas on tempo ♪ ♪ We don't gas on the tempo ♪ ♪ We don't ask for the info ♪ ♪ And we don't ask for the info ♪ ♪ We don't crash up ya disco ♪ ♪ And we don't crash up ya disco ♪ ♪ Keep it calm, cool and simple ♪ ♪ We keep it calm, cool and simple ♪ ♪ We don't gas on the tempo ♪ ♪ Nah, nah ♪ ♪ We don't ask for the info ♪ ♪ Nah, nah ♪ ♪ We don't crash up ya disco ♪ ♪ Nah, but sometimes ♪ ♪ Keep it calm, cool and simple ♪ ♪ Sometimes you gotta let it out, you gotta let it out ♪ ♪ Like whoa ♪ (relaxed steady tempo hip hop music) ♪ I just gotta let it out like whoa ♪ ♪ Hey, keep it calm, cool and simple ♪ ♪ Like whoa, hey ♪ ♪ Hey ♪ ♪ Hey ♪ ♪ Hey ♪ ♪ Whoa ♪ ♪ Oh whoa ♪ ♪ Oh no ♪ ♪ Oh no, we don't gas on the tempo ♪ ♪ Nah, and we don't ask for the info ♪ ♪ Nah, and we don't crash up ya disco ♪ ♪ Nah, we keep it calm, cool and simple ♪ ♪ Yeah, we don't gas on the tempo ♪ ♪ Nah, and we don't ask for the info ♪ ♪ Nah, and we don't crash up ya disco ♪ ♪ Nah, we keep it calm, cool and simple, simple ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ (relaxed electronic tones) - "Welcome Home."

Lovers make homes of one another.

Let us make a home of one another.

Shelter.

Safety.

Strong.

Steady.

Sacred.

Foundation.

We let our hair down.

We settle in.

We settle into ourselves.

Physical embodiments of home.

Physical embodiments of love actualized.

It's a place we belong.

We leave houses for home.

It's where we climb mountains to actualize love.

We stand atop the summit of our love.

Sunset.

Stars shine.

Sunrise.

There we are.

Home.

Love.

We proof ourselves, for surely storms will come.

We will weather storms from foundations built long ago.

We are built to last.

Fortified.

Love actualized.

Welcome.

Home is you.

Home is me.

We are home.

- Music holds immense importance in the African American community, serving as a powerful means of cultural expression, resilience and social commentary.

From spirituals during slavery to blues, jazz, gospel and hip hop, it has been a vehicle for storytelling, activism and celebrating identity.

♪ We shall overcome ♪ ♪ We shall overcome ♪ ♪ We shall overcome ♪ ♪ Someday ♪ ♪ Oh, deep ♪ ♪ In my heart ♪ ♪ I do believe ♪ ♪ That we shall overcome ♪ ♪ Someday ♪ ♪ We'll walk hand-in-hand ♪ ♪ We'll walk hand-in-hand ♪ ♪ We'll walk hand-in-hand ♪ ♪ Someday ♪ ♪ Hey, hey, hey ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Deep ♪ ♪ In my heart ♪ ♪ Oh, I do ♪ ♪ Believe ♪ ♪ That we'll walk hand-in-hand ♪ ♪ Someday ♪ ♪ We shall all be free ♪ ♪ We shall all be free ♪ ♪ We shall all be free ♪ ♪ Someday ♪ ♪ Hey, hey, hey ♪ ♪ Oh, oh ♪ ♪ Deep in my heart ♪ ♪ I do believe ♪ ♪ We shall overcome ♪ ♪ Someday ♪ ♪ We shall overcome ♪ ♪ Someday ♪ ♪ We shall overcome ♪ ♪ Someday ♪ (relaxed electronic tones) ♪ You're broken down and tired ♪ ♪ Of living life on a merry-go-round ♪ ♪ And you can't find the fighter ♪ ♪ But I see it in you, so we gonna walk it out ♪ ♪ And move ♪ ♪ Mountains ♪ ♪ We gonna walk it out ♪ ♪ And move ♪ ♪ Mountains ♪ ♪ And I'll rise up, I'll rise like the day ♪ ♪ I'll rise up, I'll rise unafraid ♪ ♪ I'll rise up ♪ ♪ And I'll do it a thousand times again ♪ ♪ And I'll rise up high like the waves ♪ ♪ I'll rise up in spite of the ache ♪ ♪ I'll rise up ♪ ♪ And I'll do it a thousand times again ♪ ♪ For you ♪ ♪ For you ♪ ♪ For you ♪ ♪ For you ♪ ♪ When the silence isn't quiet ♪ ♪ And it feels like it's getting hard to breathe ♪ ♪ And I know you feel like dying ♪ ♪ But I promise we'll take the world to its feet ♪ ♪ And move ♪ ♪ Mountains ♪ ♪ Bring it to its feet ♪ ♪ And move ♪ ♪ Mountains ♪ ♪ And I'll rise up, I'll rise like the day ♪ ♪ I'll rise up, I'll rise unafraid ♪ ♪ I'll rise up ♪ ♪ And I'll do it a thousand times again ♪ ♪ For you ♪ ♪ For you ♪ ♪ For you ♪ ♪ For you ♪ ♪ All we need ♪ ♪ All we need is hope ♪ ♪ And for that, we have each other ♪ ♪ And for that, we have each other ♪ ♪ We will rise ♪ ♪ We will rise up ♪ ♪ Oh, oh oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh ♪ ♪ And I'll rise up high like the day ♪ ♪ I will rise up in spite of the ache ♪ ♪ I'll rise up ♪ ♪ And I'll do it a thousand times again ♪ ♪ And we'll rise up high like the day ♪ ♪ We'll rise up ♪ ♪ And we'll do it a thousand times again ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ For you ♪ ♪ For you ♪ ♪ For you ♪ - Juneteenth is a time to gather as an American community to acknowledge the painful legacies of the past while forging the future we want with compassion, love and respect.

- I'm done fighting back my tears.

I now choose to embrace them.

My demons, I done faced 'em.

I no longer internalize hatred.

I'm tremendously grateful.

So I always say thank you.

Absolutely appreciative.

Just know that I'm thankful for all the blessings this universe provided.

I look toward the future, never shortsighted.

Embrace opportunities, never indecisive.

Never undecided because no task is too giant.

What we focus on expands.

So for me, I choose to focus on statements of "I am, I can, I will, I do, I want, I love" because our thoughts become things, so I believe in my dreams.

I have control over my own reality.

Enjoying the positive energies of those who share my same mentality.

Good vibrations is what I choose to surround me.

I practice meditation, allowing for me to maintain my consciousness.

So I remain an optimist.

Ya girl don't quit, I do the exact opposite.

Failure is not a consequence.

I use what I learn to propel like a rocket ship.

There is no limitations for ambition and confidence.

I set my goals and then I accomplish them.

I treasure the gifts I've been given.

All the souls who listen to my poetry, the words I speak stemming from my intuition.

Omitting an aura of abundance and love, so I glisten.

No longer holding onto negative beliefs.

Practice what I preach.

Live what I teach.

Light, she is me.

I close my eyes and I still see.

I'm tapped into the frequency.

But nah, I'm not perfect.

Sometimes I slip up.

But I always get up, I don't beat myself up.

Instead I choose to show myself love.

Remember, setbacks lead to breakthroughs.

So when adversity is present, let us all prefer to say thank you.

Practice what you preach.

Tap into the frequency.

Peace.

B.Lyte.

Thank you so much, "Inland Sessions" for having us.

Infinite gratitude for you, all that you do, all that you are.

Again, my name is B.Lyte and tonight, I am accompanied by my uncle, TD the Drummer 206.

Best drummer in the world and also Mr. Owuor Arunga, best trumpet player in the world.

I only rock with the best.

We do the best.

Thank you.

We are forever grateful.

We feel so blessed to have this opportunity and after viewing this, if you only take away one thing, I ask that you take away love, specifically self-love.

You have all the power.

Remember, our thoughts become things.

So believe in your dreams.

"Infinite Gratitude."

Peace.

B.Lyte.

- In 1900, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" was written by two brothers for a children's choir in Florida to celebrate Lincoln's birthday and the meaning of the Emancipation Proclamation.

It is often referred to as the Black National Anthem and has become a symbol of unity, resilience and pride within the African American community.

♪ Lift every voice and sing ♪ ♪ 'Til earth and heaven ring ♪ ♪ Ring with the harmony ♪ ♪ Of liberty ♪ ♪ Let our rejoicing ♪ ♪ Rise ♪ ♪ High as the listening skies ♪ ♪ Let it resound ♪ ♪ Loud as the rolling ♪ ♪ Sea ♪ ♪ Sing a song ♪ ♪ Full of the faith that the dark past has taught us ♪ ♪ Sing a song ♪ ♪ Full of the hope that the present has ♪ ♪ Brought us ♪ ♪ Facing the rising ♪ ♪ Sun ♪ ♪ Of our new day ♪ ♪ Begun ♪ ♪ Let us march on 'til victory ♪ ♪ Is won ♪ - 25 years after emancipation, the Calvary Baptist Church was founded in 1890 in downtown Spokane.

As the first African American church in Washington State, Calvary Baptist has been serving welcome and worship to the greater Spokane community for over 130 years.

It is an organizational and spiritual hub in the history of Spokane that is still growing from the seeds of faith and fortitude that were planted so long ago.

♪ Ride on, King Jesus ♪ ♪ No man can a hinder ♪ ♪ Hinder ♪ ♪ Hinder ♪ ♪ Me ♪ ♪ Ride on, King Jesus ♪ ♪ Ride on ♪ ♪ No man can a hinder me ♪ ♪ No man can a hinder me ♪ ♪ Ride on, King Jesus ♪ ♪ No man can a hinder ♪ ♪ Hinder ♪ ♪ Hinder ♪ ♪ Me ♪ ♪ Ride on, King Jesus ♪ ♪ Ride on ♪ ♪ No man can a hinder me ♪ ♪ No man can a hinder me ♪ ♪ No man can a hinder me ♪ ♪ No man can a hinder me ♪ ♪ No man can a hinder me ♪ ♪ No man can a hinder me ♪ ♪ No man can a hinder me ♪ ♪ No man can a hinder me ♪ ♪ In that great gettin' up morning ♪ ♪ Fare thee well ♪ ♪ Fare thee well ♪ ♪ In that great gettin' up morning ♪ ♪ Fare thee well, fare thee well ♪ ♪ In that great gettin' up morning ♪ ♪ Fare the well, fare the well ♪ ♪ In that great gettin' up morning ♪ ♪ Fare thee well, fare thee well ♪ ♪ In that great gettin' up morning ♪ ♪ Fare thee well, fare thee well ♪ ♪ In that great gettin' up morning ♪ ♪ Fare thee well, fare thee well ♪ ♪ In that great gettin' up morning ♪ ♪ Fare thee well, fare thee well ♪ ♪ In that great gettin' up morning ♪ ♪ Fare thee well, fare thee well ♪ ♪ When I get to heaven, gonna wear a robe ♪ ♪ No man can a hinder me ♪ ♪ When I get to heaven, gonna wear a robe ♪ ♪ No man can a hinder me ♪ ♪ See ♪ ♪ Gonna see King Jesus sitting on the throne ♪ ♪ No man can a hinder me ♪ ♪ Gonna see King Jesus sitting on the throne ♪ ♪ No man can a hinder me ♪ ♪ Walk ♪ ♪ Gonna walk all over those streets of gold ♪ ♪ No man can a hinder me ♪ ♪ Gonna walk all over those streets of gold ♪ ♪ No man can a hinder me ♪ ♪ No man can a hinder me ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ - Our thanks go to the artists who shared their gifts with us tonight.

Traditionally, Juneteenth is a holiday best spent with family and friends and we appreciate you for spending this time with us.

Happy Juneteenth, everyone.

♪ Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey ♪ ♪ Hey, hey, hey ♪ ♪ Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey ♪ ♪ No man ♪ ♪ No man can a hinder me ♪ ♪ No man can a hinder me ♪ ♪ No man can a hinder me ♪ ♪ No man can a hinder me ♪ ♪ Ride on, King Jesus ♪