The Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville kicked off Juneteenth festivities today.

The museum that honors and carries out Ali's legacy welcomed patrons free of charge today to celebrate black history, black joy, and justice for all.

Muhammad Ali is a personal hero of mine because he was not afraid to speak his mind about social and racial inequalities unrepresentative communities have faced for a long time around the world.

Juneteenth is not only a way to observe a momentous time in history, but is also to advocate for black culture, black resilience, and, most importantly, black joy.

Rest of the world is celebrating the 4th of July.

That wasn't our day of freedom.

Our freedom came Juneteenth.

We are here to celebrate history.

Juneteenth went on June the 19th.

The enslaved in Galveston, Texas, learned about the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation that went into effect January the 1st, 1863.

The Civil War ended in April of 1865, and the enslaved in Galveston did not find out about it until June.

The teens.

And the fact that it took two years for the people in the South to even find out about it.

And that's why we celebrate it, because that's when we were really known to be free.

Lincoln was a vessel leader.

He couldn't make up his mind if, he should end slavery.

But he realized because Lee was winning every battle.

That I need these enslaved people to fight.

I need to destabilize the South.

Their workforce.

So he was forced into fighting against his will.

The Emancipation Proclamation to destabilize the South and to recruit soldiers.

The truth of the matter is, Lincoln didn't free the slaves.

The slaves freed Lincoln.

They could not have won without being enslaved.

They had a little jingle which would.

Now let's rally, boys.

Let's rally.

Never mind the past.

We have a large, long road to travel.

But our day is coming fast.

For God is for the right.

And we have no need to fear.

The union will be saved by the colored volunteer.

And the Union will soon be.