Skip to content
  • Essence GU
  • Beautycon
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Afropunk
  • Essence Studios
  • Soko Mrkt
  • Ese Funds
  • Refinery29
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Entrepreneurship
  • News
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
  • Subscribe
Home • Celebrity

Usher Dismisses Independence Day, Shows Love to Blacks and Juneteenth at Essence Fest

In place of a patriotic shirt this Independence day, the ESSENCE Fest singer donned a Juneteenth shirt.
Usher Dismisses Independence Day, Shows Love to Blacks and Juneteenth at Essence Fest
Paras Griffin/Getty Images
By Brad Weté · Updated October 27, 2020

Usher chose a big stage to make a big statement. As the headlining act at the Essence Festival on Saturday night, he wore a leather jacket that had, “Have we truly achieved our independence?” written on the back and a “Juneteenth” t-shirt with “July Fourth” crossed out.

Today, of course, America celebrated Independence Day. Juneteenth is also known as Freedom Day for Blacks. 

Apparently that’s the only independence he’s celebrating. And that was on June 19. 

Aside from the statement garments, Usher’s show was a love (and make love) fest. He opened with “OMG” and sprinkled cuts like “Love in the Club” and “Nice & Slow” in along the way.